I love this book.  Period.  I could end the review right there and would be editorially correct.  I love this book.

In fact, there is nothing I dislike about this book.  There is nothing to dislike about this book.  It is borderline perfect . . . in the writing, in the art, in the coloring, in the pacing, in the tone . . . this trade paperback collection of a 6-part story from BOOM! Studios by Dan Abnett and I.N.J. Culbard is simply fantastic.

Ronald Montgomery is a talented storyteller, and this anthology, a collection of five very different stories, is a solid showcase for these talents. 

Relaxed fit jeans.

That’s the first thing that comes to mind when I think about my first reading of Courage, Dino Caruso’s “lived-in-feel” series that was finally released in its entirety on Red King Comics.

I’ve mentioned this in previous reviews, but in case you missed it, I am a big Bronze Age guy.  I love what was being (mass) produced in the late '80s/early '90s, as it really was a reflection of the times . . . a little bit of political butt kicker, a whole lot of showing off the billionaire side of being a superhero.

BACKSTORY: This is the first part of a multi-book story arc that, according to Dark Horse, is the final installation of this Eisner Award-winning horror series from writer Paul Tobin and artist Juan Ferreyra.  Main protagonist Declan is forced to again meet the psychotic sociopath Nimble Jack, who is now resurrected following the death of Swivel in the previous Colder series, The Bad Seed.

The funny books aren’t so funny anymore.  Well, they are, but it is a dark and sinister humor as opposed to the real laughs that I grew up with in the Silver and Bronze Age of comics. 

When I was a kid and we still had a newspaper delivered to the house, when my father was all done reading it – and before I fell in love with the sports page – the comic pages were my first destination.  I pretty much read anything – with the possible exception of Apartment 3-G and Rex Morgan, MD, which were soap opera strips and, therefore, not funny – on that page.

Full Disclosure:  This is my first time reading Suicide Risk from Mike Carey, Elena Casagrande, Haemi Jang (Issue #18), and BOOM! Studios, so there may be some background and nuances that I am unfamiliar with, as well as characters and pre-existing story.  Having said that, this story stands on its own and is worthy of reading and reviewing.  Also note that Issues #18 – 21 have already been sitting on comic shop shelves for several months, but if you haven’t read them, choosing to wait for the trade paperback instead, there are some slight spoilers ahead and read at your own risk.