Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Review: Sixpack & Dogwelder #4

By Philip Schweier
November 29, 2016 - 11:41

Once more, I read a comic book with no familiarity with its background. From page 1, I learned it appears to be a spinoff of Hellblazer, and as such is a part of the DC Universe. The two lead characters are partners in crime fighting. Sixpack is an overweight, under-powered masked crime fighter, while Dogwelder is a near-mystical being, the latest in a legacy of beings dating back to ancient Egypt.

The issue serves as an origin story for Dogwelder, cursed by Anubis to be a hybrid of canine and fire. While it may answer some questions, clearly more will come, the two partners, along with John Constantine, continue their adventure across the mystical planes of the DCU.

I like Garth Ennis. I’ve always found his writing brutal without being violent for violent’s sake. In this case, much of that brutality is muted by the limits of what can be published in a mainstream comic book. Honestly, I found it distracting, and would have preferred the profanity be watered down, rather than redacted with ***.

The artwork is suitably cartoony, adding to the ludicrous, Terry Gilliam-like nature of the story. The graphics have a bit of a Mad Magazine feel, which I especially enjoyed. However, being a bit of a purist, I prefer any reference to the Spectre or the Phantom Stranger to be handled by the likes of Jim Aparo.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12