Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

The Sheriff of Babylon #12

By Hervé St-Louis
November 17, 2016 - 09:03

It’s retribution time against the boss of the boss. The intelligence officer who pulls the strings and created the chaos and madness in Iraq. He’s kidnapped and dealt with. But is the grey-haired man the really the man who is responsible for the destruction?

The suspense in this issue was great. The kidnapping was scary because it was all talk and quiet moments. Unlike Hollywood films, it was not violent and an extended torture scene with good cop/bad cop. It was casual and retribution for the evils of the world. We do not know if the gray-haired man is really the one calling the shots. His case was convincing. But just like the Iraqis who decided to kill him, it does not matter.

Retribution is about someone, anyone, paying the price for the madness in Babylon. If a lowly Blackwater computer technician fits the bill, so be it. Tom King here indulge in the sense of revenge that animates many about the conflict in Iraq. Because no real culprit can be found, any douche will do. My question is what is different between the individual murder of one man and the mass hysteria and madness provoked by an extended asymmetric war? Early in the issue, we do see that groups of belligerents can also exact retribution but it is not treated as a quiet and solemn thing. It’s just bloody murder.

As you read these pages, watch how Mitch Gerads plays with colours. This is what he does. None of the colours he uses are accidental. They fit the scene and help create mood. Given how limited his exposure and shots are, it is effective. Close ups, waste, and medium shots, repeated over and over again is what he uses. He renders them either as nine panel grids, or log banners that span the width of the page. The actual quality of his lines may be questionable but his storytelling is impeccable.

Rating: 9 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12