The Kamandi Challenge #11 starts things off right, with a fantastic Nick Bradshaw cover!
Bradshaw, who has drawn for Marvel and DC, exhibits a highly detailed inking style that really punches this cover into the super realism category.
The Kamandi Challenge, for those who are still new to it, is a continuing saga. Each issue in this limited series is written and drawn by a different creative team. Each team picks up the story where the previous team left off. This is the second last issue of the 12 issue series.
Issue 11 is chock full of twists and turns. Writer Rob Williams, artist Walter Simonson and colorist Laura Martin combine to make a powerful team with strong storytelling chops. And they take proper bows to the original series creator and artist, the late Jack Kirby.
This issue’s main villain, The Misfit, is straight from the Kirby “bible”, in his physical appearance and dialogue. He’s small, he’s mean, and he ain’t like nothing you ever seen!
The tone of this issue is decidedly “comic books are for teens”. Whether this tone is meant to be yet another nod to the days of Jack Kirby, or just a general retro throwback is not clear, but it’s obvious that it’s intentional. There’s page after page of leaping figures, explosions, giant weapons, accompanied by dialogue like “Great Day In The Morning”, “Great Scott”. There’s the repetition of phrases in one-word balloon after another and more. Longtime Kirby fans will glory in the Kirby ‘crackle’ effects, and there’s even a giant gorilla named “Royer”.
Simonson’s art in this issue is dynamic. Longtime veteran Simonson takes plenty of liberties with human anatomy and has a blast doing it.
If you are a Kirby fan, this issue, in particular, will delight you, be sure to have a look!
DC Comics The Kamandi Challenge #11 $3.99 for 25 pages of content. Rated: Teen
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