Samurai Jack #8 Review


Should fans bother with this comic book? Or is it something they honestly need to own? Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

Jack reflects on his odyssey to return to the past, but he won’t like what he finds staring back at him. A special silent issue illustrated by Samurai Jack character designer Andy Suriano!

Samurai Jack 8_Preview PageIt’s a tough enough challenge to deliver a monthly adventure yarn that meets the expectations of followers while attempting to attract newcomers along the way. But this creative team has seen fit to add another wrinkle to their already steep work load, and the final results turn out to be rather fluid. There are times where it seems slightly confusing but this narrative trek succeeds as it takes our soft spoken protagonist through the Caves of Crystal Calamity.

Jim Zub and Andy Suriano pen the script by crafting a silent narrative. That’s right my fellow fanboys and fangirls, there’s no dialogue or narration to speak of. Instead the authors simply guide the direction of this tale without ever stepping in to further explain what’s happening on any given panel or page. It’s not an easy sell because there were quite a few sequences that came off a bit confusing, but somehow the entire package delivers as it gets my compliments.

Genndy Tartakovsky would be proud of the visual barrage brought on by the one and only Andy Suriano. Despite the book being a continuation of the classic television series, which carried a clean vision, each rendition offered up a sketch like creation. And that’s what makes the singular moment unique as the colors match up with a fitting set of pics that are surefire examples of an illustrative journey. Because this release relied heavily on its text-less component it became obvious that this talent knew exactly what he was doing.

Samurai Jack #8 is an interesting feature which does things a bit different. In the end the creative team accomplishes their goals and moves forward without the use of the written word. I was impressed and it earns a recommendation from me.

OUR RATING
7.5
  • + Samurai Jack vs. the Caves of Crystal Calamity.
  • + Rock solid art embodies this journey.
  • + Carries a narrative without text!
  • - Can be a bit confusing...

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