Today’s Comic> Phantom: KGB Noir #2

Umm, Kolchak, he's not THAT kind of ghost.

The Phantom Double Shot: KGB Noir #2

Moonstone (2010)

COVER: Dennis Calero

EDITOR: Joe Gentile

The Phantom: “The Hammer” part 2

WRITER: Mike Bullock

ARTIST: Fernando Peniche

LETTERER: Josh Aitken

PHANTOM CONSULTANT: Ed Rhaodes

Kolchak: The Night Stalker: “Dichotomy”

WRITERS: Clay & Susan Griffith

ARTIST: David Niehaus

LETTERER: Bernie Lee

In the Phantom story, Kit infiltrates the leftover KGB group hoping to attack the United States. In the car traveling to the missile launch site, he cover is almost blown, forcing him to strike first. The car goes off a cliff, and while everyone survives, the detonator is thrown clear. Other KGB hangers-on try to claim it first, but the Phantom decides to hitch a ride and take out the entire group.

What they got right: The black-and white art works in this story, possibly better than it would in color, and adds a different atmosphere visually. Peniche does a good job shading. The story itself is also well done, but Bullock knows his Phantom by now.

What they got wrong: Outside of a lame font used for the laughter, nothing really.

In the Kolchak story, the reporter makes friends with a guy he meets at the same stand for lunch. Leo asks for Kolchak’s help…to kill his son! Leo was coerced by another group of KGB remnants to use his twin sons in experiments to create “supermen”. Now one son is a success, but (according to Leo’s telling) evil, and the other is a monster who can’t handle the light. Kolchak doesn’t just refuse, especially after Leo spills his real reason (not knowing Kolchak also knows Russian) leaves his not-so-friend to his fate at the hands of both sons.

What they got right: Not being into horror (and yet I love Doctor Who), I don’t follow the series or the original TV show (or the remake that made him a younger guy) so I can’t tell how accurate this story is to the source material. However, it was an interesting story for a genre I’m not into. Again, the artist makes great use of the black-and-white art style. Even I don’t want to colorize the art in this comic.

What they got wrong: Leo going to Kolchak for “help” because his last name is Russian only works to get him where he needs to be for the story. They also don’t say if this story connects to the Phantom storyline. Although a line in this issue’s Phantom story links back to last issue’s “Death Angel” back-story, this one doesn’t have Bullock as a writer so I kind of doubt there will be a connection.

Recommendation: If you missed the old days where we fought the KGB (and there are factions in today’s Russia that would love to get the Soviet Union back, if only to get their own power back), this is a good story thus far. Worth at least trade waiting on if not getting the individual issues.

You said you wanted a sunroof. {click for full size}

Tomorrow: Space Ace #6, the final issue of the mini-series.