A new story arc is commencing in Image Comics’ Newburn #9.
As we remember (or when we go back and refer to our notes), Easton Newburn is a private detective. So, yes, Newburn is a cop comic. Crime, cops, and everything procedural. Well, this book kind of strays outside the blue lines, into the red zone. It’s about organized crime, it’s down and dirty, and totally entertaining.
Writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Jacob Phillips clearly have open communication as they work on Newburn. Overall (without getting into plot specifics) the dialogue stays terse throughout, with cops talking in abbreviated fashion to other cops. It’s tightly compressed, full of tension. There are ‘journal’ pages that interrupt the comic story flow, where a page of text from “Emily” appears, chronicling some criminal acts.
In Zdarsky’s Newburn, the dialogue is frank and blunt, the characters are grumpy and brittle, and there is no time for polite small talk. Then, there is the sudden eruption of violence, the handguns, the tire irons. For the reader, this is pure gold. No gilding the lily, or babbling BS, just straight to the point.
Jacob Phillips’ visuals are well composed, the figures inhabiting the panels, moving their bodies through the space with clarity of purpose. There is no awkwardness in their poses, it’s a wonderfully imagined sequential series. (Colour assist by Pip Martin, lettering uncredited)…
The 5-page backup story is equally worthy: David Brothers writes a beautifully composed and tight script about a young man who ‘picks the wrong pocket’. Artist Nick Dragotta plays with visual angles, tight close-ups, and plenty of interesting shapes in this black-and-white continuing drama. Very impressive.
Image Comics, Newburn #9, $3.99 for 25 pages of content. Mature
Newsdesk