No. No, no, no, no. Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins just dropped a bomb of an issue, and now I have to wait an entire month to see what happens next.

There I was, sitting down to partake in their newest collaboration, Black Badge, that with every passing issue, I was enjoying more and more. It’s about an elite Cub Scouts troupe that works for the government, going on dangerous missions into areas where kids are overlooked. They get the job done. The last story arc had them taking part in a Hunger Games/Battle Royale-style jamboree. The mixing of Boy Scout tropes with YA tropes was a joy, as the Black Badge groups set about competing against the other elite troupes while also uncovering a possible conspiracy.

This issue has left our Black Badges on a couple of weeks of R&R. Though on their own, they have not been left alone. Someone is watching them and taking notes, leading to the biggest, wrenching story twist the series has had so far. I gasped.

This issue is why great creators sometimes deserve patience from their readers. It took a little time to get here, but it was worth it.

I’m also becoming more and more a fan of Tyler Jenkins. His art style is sparse and unkempt; it tells you what you need to know, like a film camera that focuses in on the details that are most important in a scene, in a moment, capitalizing on the specificity of any given story beat.

This series has gone from feeling like a fun lark to a story you can’t miss out on, and you shouldn’t be missing out on.

Creative Team: Matt Kindt (story), Tyler Jenkins (art), Hilary Jenkins (colors), Jim Campbell (letters), Eric Harburn (editor), Scott Newman (designer)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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