Sidekick #8 Review

Should you pick this up? Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

After years of doubt and guilt, Barry Chase finally has a mission: to kill the Red Cowl in retribution for the betrayal of a lifetime. But first he has to find the Cowl, and that won’t be easy. So when he turns to Melody, the Cowl’s assistant, who he suspects may have been in on the whole thing, how far will he go to force her to tell what she knows…and what price is she prepared to pay to withhold that information?

Ever since Joe’s Comics made their return to local shops around the country fans have been treated with some interesting ideas. This one, for me, stands out because the creative team continually pushes its own narrative envelope. They nudge the protagonist along this sordid path in what has become an engaging experience.

J. Michael Straczynski pens another rock solid script as Flyboy continues under the guise of his new villainous identity: Sidekick. It’s through the written word that we see a few blanks get filled in as the scribe makes a clear effort to illustrate the evolution of a man who once upon a time was an icon. Barry Chase tried to live up to an example that never existed, but beneath the rubble of his failures he became the one man who could find and take down the Red Cowl. And through that new found mission he’s discovered a purpose.

The comic book is adorned with expert illustrations by Tom Mandrake. It’s been made clear that the palette this particular talent draws from carries an array of images that mimic the heyday of the superhero age. He employs modern sensibilities with results that carry some imperfections as a few of the visuals looked rushed and underdeveloped. But with compelling colors by HiFi the whole of this piece is given just enough room to stand out with pleasing results.

Sidekick #8 is without a doubt a rock solid yarn that continues to stride along courtesy of its already commendable foundations. It easily comes recommended.