Broken Frontier

While searching for Ampersand in Tokyo, Yorick and Agent 355 make an interesting discovery. Meanwhile, Dr. Mann and her new girlfriend face off with someone from the doctor’s past.

Doctor Mann discovered over a year ago that Yorick’s pet monkey, Ampersand, held (and sometimes threw) the key to his and his master’s survival of the plague that rid the world of the male gender of most species on Earth. Since that time Yorick, Agent 355 and Dr. Mann have been in pursuit of a ninja that stole the monkey. It has mostly been a failing venture, where they catch up to Amp’s trail only to see it be cold by months. Finally, they are in Tokyo, where Yorick and 355 have discovered through a brothel manager that their little friend has been bartered around the underworld like a million dollar bill. Doctor Mann and Rose try to find some answers at Dr. Mann’s mother’s lab only to find it burned to the ground. They change course, and go to a secret greenhouse in the city again in search of answers only to find a very dangerous situation at hand.

I don’t save all of my reviews anymore. If I did, though, I would surely be able to go back to all previous entries for Y: The Last Man and see that there is very little change from review to review. Plot progression and artist personnel changes aside, the gushing accolades could certainly be carried over from issue to issue. How to break the mold…?

Of the current on-going series that Vaughan is writing, this is the one I enjoy most. That’s saying something considering I find both Ex Machina and Runaways brilliant in their own right. Vaughan has always been great at breathing individuality into his characters by giving each a distinct voice. This issue he shows off classic Yorick with his wit and geek-speak; and his exchanges with Agent 355 often border on Laurel-and-Hardy-esque. What I find most appealing about this book, though, is that even though it takes its time getting there, there is ample plot progression through multiple and parallel storylines and subplots (Hero, Beth-2 [as I call her] and Natalya make cameos here) in each issue.

Another reason I favor this book over Vaughan’s others is the art…or rather the sequencing of the art. He gives these artists more panels to express the story in. Co-creator and penciler, Pia Guerra brings her usual A-game. She delivers clean, easy flowing art that works well regardless of the scene. I am usually bothered by frequent changes in art team, but if I weren’t reviewing this issue, I don’t think I would have ever noticed whether it was Pia or Goran Sudzuka on pencils. Not only is that a very good thing, but it is very rare to see on a single title—especially a creator-owned title. Two aspects of the art that have not changed throughout the series are inker and colorist. Jose Marzan Jr. and Zylonol probably don’t get the credit they deserve as they have been just as responsible for the look of this book as the pencils.

All right, I give up. I don’t think I was able to alter my review enough to distinguish it from my last. I can’t help it; this story continues to intrigue me to no end. There is just over a year left before Vaughan and Guerra put "poor Yorick" and his band of merry women to pasture, and there is absolutely no indication of where they might end up. Any way you slice it, I’m betting it will be a fascinating ride.