Behold the might and majesty of this war-torn avenger!  But considering all the literature about secret World War II history does he carry a saga that’s worth following?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

After the classified, advanced airplane known as the Flying Wing is hijacked by the Nazis, Sledgehammer is sent on a special recovery mission that pits him against the deadly Black Flame!

The atmosphere surrounding the B.P.R.D. is ripe for exploration as this latest release, featuring an ongoing odyssey, proves with each additional hop and skip.  We have a strong main character that anchors a painful journey full of intrigue that evokes sensations of loss while maintaining a certain level of much needed accessibility.  Thanks to the efforts of the team behind it, this is one comic book that’s worthy of your time and attention.

Mike Mignola and John Arcudi handle the story and between these two talents we find the soul of something that might just still be human.  After some harrowing and horrifying events our protagonist has gone into seclusion, avoiding the conflict around him in an effort to come to terms with his new reality.  Without a doubt, it’s a tough situation but through the candor of the scribes we see the makings of a hero. There are some off moments, that hinder the overall progression, but the truth is what’s received is more than enough to sell any eager fanboy or fangirl on this solid player.

The art by Laurence Campbell is my favorite part of this excellent package. Simplistic design sense, employs pencil strokes that aren’t necessarily minimalist but rather precise.  Like the hands of surgeon, the illustrator carefully cuts at the page, in the right way, in order to make the visual component stick out as something both necessary and unique.  It’s this type of attention to detail that allows the issue to be something that’s pretty and functional as well.

Sledgehammer 44: Lightning War #1 is a great comic.  It may not be above what came before but it’s more than enough to earn my praise.  Recommended.

4/5