Oh, hey. This title is back. After disappearing for two months, Rocket Girl has returned with issue #4. Is it good?
Rocket Girl #4 (Image Comics)
DaYoung is trying to escape two Hawkcycles, enforcers of Quintum Mechanics from the future (or past, as it is called) who plan on taking her out before she can complete her mission that would prevent QM in its infant stage in the 80s from becoming the tyrants in the future. What follows is an issue-long chase scene as DaYoung tries to escape her pursuers and possibly get some answers.
Time for a wild ride through the air, streets, and subways of New York.
This was a fast-paced, action-packed issue of the series. It had more focus on the action/chase and was light on the story in comparison. Sure, there was a bit of story progression with what is going on in 2013, but not much else other than a bit of recapping earlier scenes for different characters, so there isn’t much to say in regards to the story.
Brandon Montclare’s writing gets the job done otherwise. The pace is fast, so you can feel the intensity and excitement of the chase in it, while the scenes that stop to focus on other characters are a bit slower. Dialogue and inner narration are decent overall, but nothing really special. Character wise, there is not much to write home about with this cast. Having read all of issues in a row with this one to catch myself up, most of the cast is not very interesting or particularly memorable. DaYoung is a good and morally strong protagonist, who wants to do what is right by going back in time to stop what is going on in her time, even if she can never return, but we have no backstory for her or any of the other characters either. The scientists and police officers in the story are kind of boring and don’t have much in the way of personality. The villains are rather generic evil businessmen that secretly run everything. The only other characters that have a bit more depth to them would be Leshawn and Gomez, the characters from DaYoung’s time period, especially when they are discussing the situation at hand for them.
You hear that, neon smiley face sign?! I don’t care what you hear me say!
What makes this comic more than an average shonen manga (basically a comic that appeals to young boys, like I stated in the previous review) just created in North America is Amy Reeder’s visuals. This is a very beautiful and colorful series, with very well-drawn and easily diverse cast of characters. The locations and backgrounds are often well detailed and help with creating these unique looking worlds. The action is incredible and easy to follow, with well-thought out layouts and a great sense of movement to them. The coloring is especially strong with its bright palette for the future and dark and dingy colors for 80s New York. The comic is almost worth checking out just for the artwork alone.
Is It Good?
Rocket Girl #4 is an okay, but visually beautiful issue of series. It has the mentality of a Japanese manga, with its creativity and storytelling, but lacks a memorable and strong cast of characters and is a rather average story. The strengths and weaknesses are clearer than usual when it comes to this issue.
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