End of Life #6
Writer: Kyle Starks
Artist: Steve Pugh
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Cover Artist: Gerald Parel
Eddie Stallion isn't trying to become a better person, but it seems to be happening anyway.
Much to his chagrin, I might add.
Psycho Killer
George Stallion told Eddie to get out of Pluto, but he’s got nowhere else to go. So Eddie is sharing a bunk bed with young Trent at Leona’s place… for all of five minutes. He’s finally ready to skip town when he bumps into Sophie, who wants to have a chat. Eddie agrees to meet with her the next day—sure hope he doesn’t get kidnapped in the meantime…
Elsewhere, George learns that Eddie is still in town and isn’t happy. Richard Smiley, currently in prison, recruits some of his more unhinged henchmen to take out Eddie. And the Menagerie continues to be in turmoil thanks to Eddie’s actions.
Boy, no wonder Eddie acts like the world revolves around him…
Change (In the House of Flies)
It’s funny how the changes in the Stallion men are manifesting. As Eddie (slowly) starts to become a better and less selfish person, it seems like the opposite is happening with George. His outburst when he assumed the fence-smashing “hobo bear” was Eddie showed his friends and neighbors a side of him that they never knew existed. Meanwhile, Eddie keeps on trying to do the right thing, even if he doesn’t realize that’s what he’s doing.
Of course, the right thing doesn’t always work out well. Eddie put Richard Smiley in prison, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped Smiley’s vendetta. In fact, it’s just brought out even weirder, crazier goons than we’ve already seen. Which, given that we’ve seen some wild ones, is really saying a lot.
Speaking of crazy characters, we get more of a look into how the Menagerie operates. Raven’s single-minded obsession with getting revenge on Eddie has now cost him his best man. And the disappearance of Big Cock has not gone unnoticed by his best friend Sparrow, who insists on being called “Little Cock” now. Might want to rethink that moniker, dude, just saying.
I was glad to see more interaction between Eddie and Sophie, but as soon as they agreed to meet, you knew what was going to happen. “Meet me here tomorrow for the heart-to-heart we’ve needed to have for years, and I’ll be devastated if you don’t show up” is about as played out as “I’m only a week away from retirement, I hope I don’t get crippled or killed before then,” so of course Eddie got kidnapped that night.
I still wonder how long this series can continue for. I remain surprised at how likable Eddie can be, and the supporting cast remain a lot of fun. Our window into the world of the Menagerie keeps opening a bit wider. But the formula of “assassin finds Eddie in Pluto, Eddie kills assassin, lather, rinse, repeat” can only go so far. Hopefully Kyle Starks has some more tricks up his sleeve.
Welcome to the Jungle
One trick that continues to impress me is the one where we get the same creative team for six on-time issues of this title. That’s a massive feat these days.
Kyle Starks continues to do what he does so well—give us unlikable piece-of-trash humans that aren’t all that bad, once you get to know them. Eddie is actually a lot of fun, and the colorful variety of people who keep trying to kill him are always good for a laugh. Some of the humor is very juvenile, but that fits with the emotional maturity level of much of the cast. He does a great job mixing the character beats with humor and bursts of violence, with pacing that is consistent throughout.
Steve Pugh’s art works so well for this type of story. The slightly cartoony look, with overly exaggerated facial expressions, carries so much of the script perfectly. And when there are those sudden bursts of violence, the cartoonish feel keeps it from getting too graphic. The animal masks of the Menagerie all look suitably ridiculous, which I now realize is the point. Nothing in this book is meant to be taken too seriously, and Pugh completely understands that assignment.
Chris O’Halloran’s colors work as the perfect complement to the art. The more ridiculous elements, such as Eddie’s bright red suit, stand out without being too much. The shadowy world of the Menagerie and even Smiley’s prison cell contrast with the overly-bright and sunny town of Pluto. It sounds cliche, but he makes sure that the colorful cast of characters appear as just that.
Bad Moon Rising
End of Life #6 is a bit of a transitional issue, giving Eddie some room to breathe after the first big story arc while also leaving him questioning what’s next. It looks like what’s next is more weird assassins and more pain, which should result in more fun for us, the readers. I’m just not sure if Eddie will agree…