Review – Bad Ass #2 (Dynamite)

Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Writer: Herik Hanna
Artist: Bruno Bessadi
Release Date: 19th February 2014

Let me preface this review with the acknowledgement that I feel this story and concept at its core is a very nice twist. Having a Villain as the main character in a series, I don’t believe I have read to many books quite like it. The character development of Dead End has been pretty superb so far with flashback style glances of his teenage years showing us what has transpired to shape who he is now. And some of the quips are top notch, for instance: “Love disappears with a dick slap… friendship goes away with a head-butt… sometimes the opposite. How do you trust such fragile things?”

The artwork has also stayed very solid; clean lines, good colors and the scenes are well drawn to convey the action scenes and to establish the visuals for where the story is taking place. I have always been a fan of when an artist chooses to show a jump or move from point A to point B in what looks like still frames. It’s been a staple in Spider-Man comics and many others, showing each acrobatic ‘frame’ of a jump or drop in ghost form followed by the character in full color and presence at the end. These are done very well, along with everything else Bruno Bessadi is managing to accomplish in this story.

Now comes the part of the review where the preface of praise for the concept of the book will show that, although I have some complaints, I still think it’s a decent read. It’s not the storyline necessarily that I have issues with, but rather the choice of dialogue. I understand we are reading a Villain’s narrative, but does it really have to be so vulgar or sexually explicit with innuendo or flat out disturbing thoughts? Are we as fanboys and collectors not intelligent enough to differentiate a Villain’s thoughts from hero’s thoughts without the use of foul language or unwholesome talk? I understand the point that Dead End is a little unstable so some of these things are necessary, but I found it to be a little cumbersome in this issue. That aspect, as well as the less-than-imaginative names for some of the other characters, left a bad taste in my mouth. I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue and I enjoy reading a villain in the lead role for a change but these few things really turned me off and at this point I’m not really sure I’d care to read any more of the adventures – or in a villain’s case, misadventures – of Dead End.

Rating: 3/5.

INTERIOR ARTWORK PREVIEW
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