Apache Delivery Service is not another “Skip The Dishes While We Pick Up Your Takeout”. Rather, this new comic title from Dark Horse dwells in the bowels of the Vietnam War, with the ‘hunting and gathering’ taking on a different connotation.
Matt Kindt (Ether, Mind MGMT, etc) writes the story of the American first nations native who finds himself preternaturally talented as a war scout. It’s so much like his activities back in Chinle, Arizona: adapt to your surroundings, take your time, and then calmly target your prey.
Kindt gets it right, as we get to know the Dine Navajo, mistakenly labelled Apache by the white US soldiers. It’s the real versus the stereotype, the symbolism of survival, the code of conduct gone awry. (Sensitivity Consultant on Apache Delivery Service is Azby Whitecalf.)
Then the enemy makes its move. But who is the enemy?
Alberta Canada Artist Tyler Jenkins applies a high contrast line and shadow approach; stylistically casual (rather than hyper realistic), the impressionist look of Apache Delivery Service allows the reader to imagine the darkened details, and embroider the figments themselves. Solid colouring, full of atmosphere and jungle rhythm, by Hilary Jenkins.
It’s going somewhere dark, emprisoned, emboldened and very dramatic.
Dark Horse, Apache Delivery Service #1, $3.99 for 26 pages of content. Perhaps rated Teen +
Newsdesk