Broken Frontier

The C stands for Callisto, but you can call her Dex. Everyone does; even the people who hire, kidnap, punch, and shoot her, but not in that particular order. Sometimes it’s even the same person.

Picking up directly after issue one, writer Greg Rucka takes us further down the rabbit hole with his newest heroine, Private Investigator Dexedrine C. Parios. We see our hero voraciously flirting with the doctor examining her. He tells her she’s lucky to be getting away with a bruised rib and some scratches, considering she took two bullets to the chest. She replies in kind with asking about his marital status. This is Dex; a lived in, wise cracking, smart, and capable woman who gets herself in unfortunate situations. Perhaps it has to do with the many vices she possesses, with gambling shooting straight to the top of that list.

Despite her flaws, she is a well respected investigator and a very warm caretaker to her disabled brother, Ansel. Dex is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. She’s all lady, but can take a punch really well.

Her current case, having only been in it for roughly 36 hours, has already gotten her beat up, shot, abducted, hospitalized, and face to face with the seventh richest man in Oregon (as she says, “…in a state where Nike and Intel are based, that’s no mean feat.”), who just might be a gangland kingpin as well. Why is she taking these risks? On the surface, the case will clean her debt with the local casino, the missing girl in question being the owner’s granddaughter. But deep down, Rucka lets us in on Dex’s nature in very subtle ways that suggest she has a heart of gold and genuinely wants to find this girl safely. She doesn’t pick fights, just finds herself and her incredible pain threshold in the middle of them.

The look and atmosphere of this book is reminiscent of Sean Phillips' work on Criminal, another pulpy noir currently on shelves, but the similarities stop there. They differ greatly in tone and style, so much so that calling Stumptown noir is almost a mistake. This is 80s noir, that doesn’t throw-back to anything older than Stephen J. Cannell’s television producing career (if you get that reference, then this book is definitely for you). Smart characters, intricate crimes and a resilient lead, all injected with situational humor and sportsmanship. It is a genuinely fun balance that feels nostalgic and new at the same time. 

Artist Matthew Southworth earns his keep, doing right by Rucka’s words, creating a gritty world inhabited with all kinds of colorful characters. His lines are thick and lush, but flow over his very detailed pencils creating an artistic hybrid of realism and art that is just beautiful.  From Dex’s Canary Yellow vintage mustang to the way Southworth illustrates the calm and kindness in Ansel’s eyes, his work here is top notch.

The issue is supplanted with back-matter, chronicling the artist’s process, amongst other things. This is an enjoyable read in it own right and only heightened my enjoyment of his illustrations.

Stumptown has themes Rucka is comfortable with and obviously loves. This creative collaboration with Mr. Southworth successfully elevates the story, spreading that love to the reader. Coming highly recommended, after a read like this, you may find yourself gladly following Dex’s adventures into any medium available.