Hench - Page 2

T'ain't easy to play with classic comic imagery in a way that's mindful of the original artist's strengths and limitations - and also adds something to the image. (Even Jaime Hernandez had difficulties when he tackled the Action cover for a DC collection of Bizarro stories.) And Bello unfortunately fails to rise above fanzine level imitation. His art is a biggest flaw in an otherwise diverting work: at times, you wish Bello had a strong inker helping to enhance his erratic figures, though in some panels, the composition looks so wonky that I suspect even a good clean-up crew wouldn’t help. More than once I found myself wondering what one of AiT's more consistent graphic artists would make of this material (Demo's Becky Cloonan, say), which is not what you want your reader considering as you're trying to tell your story. . .

Still, Bello does pull out some arresting images (the face-to-mask showdown between Fulton and Still of the Night is effectively visualized, though there's a panel of a shoe smashing costume glasses that makes it look as if we're viewing clown clogs). For all its visual flaws, Hench provides a memorable look at lumpen-prole life in the world of superhero comics.

Page 1 — Page 2

Article tags

Spread the word
Bookmark and Share
Profile image for bill-sherman

Article Author: Bill Sherman

Bill Sherman is the Comics & Graphic Novels review editor for Blogcritics. With his lovely wife Rebecca Fox, he has recently co-authored a sudsy size acceptance novel entitled Measure By Measure.

Visit Bill Sherman's author pageBill Sherman's Blog

Read comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own
  • Hench Hench

    The fine line between hero and villain is just another of longtime super-villain henchman Mike Fulton's many scars. Now, faced with a terrible choice that could mean life and death for heroes, villains, ...

  • The Spirit Archives, Volume 15 The Spirit Archives, Volume 15
  • They Made Me A Criminal They Made Me A Criminal

Article comments

Add your comment, speak your mind

Personal attacks are NOT allowed.
Please read our comment policy.
Please preview your comment.

blogcritics lists for Nov 25, 2009

fresh articles Most recent articles site-wide

fresh comments Most recent comments site-wide

most comments Most comments in 24hrs

top writers Most prolific Blogcritics for October

top commenters Most prolific Commenters in 24 hrs