The Masked Macher hits its third issue this week, the penultimate chapter of the story. The first two issues have established this series as a comedic noir worth adding to your pull list.
The series centers on Tony Hollywood trying to make his big break in 1930s Hollywood. After the debacle of a publicity stunt involving Benny the Bear, Tony and company head back to the drawing board to brainstorm new ideas to drum up interest in the wrestling arena. David Goodman then begins to peel back some of our assumptions about Tony as a character. Previous issues portrayed Tony as a well-meaning arrogant buffoon. In this issue, we are shown a darker side of Tony’s character that does make him more well-rounded and intentionally – by Goodman – harder to root for than before. We truly see the lengths Tony will go to achieve fame. Goodman uses this character turn to shed light on current events, the dangers of demagoguery, and the consequences of fomenting hate for personal gain. A far darker turn than I expected the book to take, but still welcome. Luisa and Wang both struggle with Tony’s new publicity tactics yet remain steadfastly behind their friend.
Tony is so obsessed with his quest for fame and fortune that he doesn’t fully acknowledge the apparent murder of “Happy” Happenstein, his somewhat friend and reporter. Last issue’s cliffhanger is followed up here as Mickey has an encounter with the police. The previous issues have established an ongoing mystery surrounding the owner of the wrestling arena, from her husband’s sudden death, to having the movie studio pass on hiring Tony for their next picture. Suffice it to say, this issue ends on another cliffhanger concerning Mickey that promises answers in the next and final volume. My hope is that we can focus more on Mickey’s character and her motivations, which I feel Goodman will deliver on in the next issue. And I wouldn’t be doing my job without mentioning Benny the Bear who continues to narrate the story, as he is still being interviewed by an unidentified character. And again, Goodman drops little hints that point to a future tragedy for our characters.
As always, Alex Andres’ art captures the wrestling action well. You can feel the weight of each punch and crunching slam to the mat. Andres’ pencils capture the noir flavor of the story perfectly, especially when paired with Gonzalo Duarte’s colors. Mauro Mantella’s lettering work in this issue again encapsulates the boisterous energy of the arena crowd by presenting the crowd’s reactions in large, uppercase red lettering.
The penultimate issue of The Masked Macher features greater depth into Tony’s obsession with the Hollywood dream while also shining a light on current events. And I wonder if Tony will pay the price for choosing the “easy” path of hate. Though darker in tone, the comedic elements of the prior issues are still present, especially through Benny’s narration. This issue ends with the promise of revelations and dire consequences for our characters, as the series leads to its conclusion.
Creative Team: David A. Goodman (Writer), Alex Andres (Artist), Gonzolo Duarte (Colorist), and Mauro Mantella (Letterer)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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