Deadman issue 5, from DC Comics, delves deeper into the psyche of Deadman, the spirit trapped in an existence between living and dead.
The fifth issue of this title is another surreal step toward its upcoming conclusion in issue six.
This time around, the playing field is literally packed with characters. Writer and artist Neal Adams jams dozens of characters in his panels, possibly to amuse himself while drawing the story. The Phantom Stranger, the Demon, Deadman, Doctor Fate, Zatanna, and The Spectre all intermingle, argue, debate and ultimately collaborate. And that’s just the good guys! It’s a lot to swallow.
They are all on a snowy mountain peak in Nanda Parbat, in the Himalayas. There is a hostile group advancing up the mountain towards them. How will they defend themselves from these monsters, robots, and zombies? And how does Deadman, the title character, tie into all this mayhem?
It’s wacky, witty and bewildering, but comic legend Neal Adams is clearly enjoying himself with this existential tangential adventure. In this issue, the art is sometimes brilliant, sometimes not. The panel design and visual story retain the mastery of Adams’ touch, but some of the figure work shows a lack of serious attention. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a retro-retrospective of Neal Adams’ earliest DC comics work, this might be for you.
DC Comics, Deadman #5, $3.99 for 23 pages of content, Teen +
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