Today’s Comic> The Phantom: KGB Noir #3

Buckaroo learned how to channel the Phantom.

The Phantom Double Shot: KGB Noir #3

(guest-starring Buckaroo Banzai)

Moonstone (2010)

“The Hammer”

Buckaroo Banzai: “The Love that Hath No Name”

In the Phantom story, Kit gets inside the ex-KGB’s base of operations and discovers the full plot to destroy America. In the Buckaroo Banzai story, one of Buckaroo’s people, Brandy, is tired of having a captured alien speak to her telepathically and leaves. Unfortunately, KGB agents (I’m beginning to see a trend in this series 😀 ) kidnap her, hoping to discover the alien’s secrets, but the alien sacrifices his life to save her.

What they got right: Both stories are well drawn and written. Trying to find a way to introduce the KGB into the back-up features appears to be coming rather easy, although the KGB is (allegedly) extinct. (Yes, I’m one of those who doesn’t trust Putin. Sorry.)

What they got wrong: Having never gotten into the movie, or read the Moonstone books, I don’t know a whole lot about Buckaroo Banzai, so a blurb might have been nice. Also, why were the KGB agents in the Phantom story so over the top, like something more out of an action movie than what little I know of noir storytelling.

Recommendation: Tough to say. I suppose for completists of either franchise, it makes sense to pick this up, but otherwise unless you like this kind of comic or miss the old “stop the KGB” stories of the 80’s, I can’t call this a must have. But I did enjoy it.

Hope you brought your asprin.

Tomorrow’s Comic: Sonic Universe #16, plus a correction on my part