“Punch Drunk”
Writers: Grant Morrison, Keith Giffen, & J.M. DeMatteis
Pencils: J.J. Kirby and Michael Lopez
Colors: Gabe Eltaeb
Letters: Rob Leigh
Editor: Scott Peterson
Cover: Gene Ha
I am truly shocked but I actually thought this issue was okay. Last issue really frustrated me to no end and I dreaded picking this one up. But there were several factors that were different about this issue that I think slightly improved it from the last one.
First off, we get J.J. Kirby as the artist this time. I didn’t think David Williams and Kelsey Shannon’s art from last issue was horrible at all. In fact I stated in my review for that issue that I thought it was perfect especially with some of the facial expression they did. But I think Kirby’s art suited the story just that much more. I remember first seeing J.J. Kirby’s work in the Backlash series. I didn’t care for it as much back then but when he returned and did The New Dynamix mini-series in 2008, I enjoyed his art. I think he’s improved even further in this issue. He’s got a cartoony style that definitely matches the tone of the story.
The first part of this story last issue didn’t appeal to me because it was trying to be funny and I just didn’t find it to be. Here however, I think the overall humor worked better. Was it outstanding? No. But it was much better than last issue. It was almost like watching an episode of The Tick (or reading the comic). The characters from the alternate Earth were goofy enough to have been villains in The Tick.
I think something else that helped this issue is that it’s basically fighting through the majority of it. The dialogue does have fun with the situation but I think the action allowed for better visual jokes this time.
Does this issue redeem my feelings towards this series? Not really. But I’m glad to read an issue and not regret that I did. We’ve got 3 issues left so we’ll see if the team will end up anywhere else that’s interesting before all is said and done.
7 out of 10 (Above Average)