Broken Frontier

Gary continues to be accepted as a superhero but he also has enemies; one of whom may be his vampiric mentor.

Writer Robert Kirkman may be classified as one of the hardest working writers in comics today as he currently juggles several ongoing titles. Kirkman also has a reputation for building plots slow and steady. While that may be how the turtle beat the hare in that famous race it can cause a problem in a bi-monthly comic book.

The Astounding Wolf-Man has won the approval of the press and most of the superhero community but he is still not sure exactly how far he wants to go in the world of capes and cowls. Also, unknown to him, one superteam is actively hunting him – believing he killed one of their members in one of his full-moon rages. And speaking of those rages… Gary himself as well as his family continues to struggle with the fact that once a month he becomes more wolf than man. Are there secrets he can learn from the werewolf community? Secrets that his mentor, the vampire Zechariah, is keeping from him?

Kirkman enjoys taking comic book clichés and turning them, if not on their ear, at least a little bit askew. This is in evidence in several places throughout this issue and creates quite an aura of charm. The problem is that, five issues in, the story feels a bit light on the substance. While the bi-monthly schedule, I am sure, allows Kirkman and artist Jason Howard to keep up with other busy schedules it leads to the story feeling like it is moving at a glacial pace. In fact, it was tempting to go back and re-read the series to date just to bring everything up to speed.

Artist Jason Howard, meanwhile, does the work of three virtually by inking and coloring his own work for this title. While his figures are fun and slightly funky with their hard-edged, blocky looks, his backgrounds are vague and feel a little lacking. In the early issues this was not so noticeable but now as the story opens up to include the city it becomes a bit annoying as it does not allow the surroundings to help shape the characters or add texture to the tale.

The Astounding Wolf-Man is an interesting and enjoyable take on the superhero genre; blending horror and heroics with just a hint of sarcasm. The title’s bi-monthly schedule combined with the modern, decompressed style of storytelling, however, is starting to render this title one which may be better read in trade paperback format.