End of Life #7
Writer: Kyle Starks
Artist: Steve Pugh
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Cover Artist: Gerald Parel
Publisher: DC Comics, Vertigo Imprint
End of Life #7 plays out a little bit differently than past issues, choosing to focus largely on the various parts of Eddie Stallion’s world while he is held captive and tortured. The result is an issue that is a little darker, and lighter on the humor, than previous issues.
In Pluto’s Orbit
In prison, Richard Smiley is living rather comfortably due to plenty of contraband coming in from his men on the outside—and his new scary tattooed bodyguard doesn’t hurt, either.
In Pluto, there’s apparently still a “bear” going around getting into everything. I don’t know who/what it really is, but I can guarantee it’s not actually a bear.
Sophie is upset that Eddie vanished on her. George calls his son a coward, but she remembers that the only thing she ever saw young Eddie afraid of was George himself.
Junior Menagerie member Sparrow, aka Little Cock, is on the trail of what happened to his mentor and friend Big Cock. That probably doesn’t bode too well for Eddie, if he survives his current circumstances.
While dwarfish Neils and psychotic Rumblemindt beat and torture Eddie, they also decide to restart Smiley’s protection racket in Pluto. The people come to George for help, but he collapses and Sophie calls 911…
Down for the Count
There’s a lot going on with this issue, and overall it’s much darker than the series has been up to this point.
I actually like it.
Despite the fact that he has a massive contract on his head, things were going a bit too well for Eddie. He helped out the people of Pluto on multiple occasions. He was starting to become a real boy, emotionally speaking. He and George stopped trying to kill each other. And he had a chance with Sophie.
So the bottom needed to drop out.
Now he’s being beaten and tortured, while all the work he did in Pluto is getting undone by his captors. When he makes an attempt at escaping, it fails, and he’s beaten mercilessly for the effort. It’s been a long time since Eddie’s confidence has been shaken like this—if ever.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t still bits of the humor the series has been known for. In fact, I think those elements are even funnier here since they’re used in contrast to all of the unpleasant happenings. When Eddie’s escape attempt is failing, and the sound effects while he’s being hit are things like “Nope!” and “Big F***ing Knee!,” it’s pretty damn funny. And although I have no idea what purpose his two pages here serve, the “worst killer on the Menagerie roster” Goblin Shark is hilariously awful at his job.
For me, this issue was just what the book needed. I’ve been enjoying the series so far, but I’ve commented a few times that Kyle Starks doesn’t do a lot of ongoing series, so I was worried his style of humor would wear thin here given time. And I was starting to feel that a bit. But now this issue has given the book a shot in the arm, and I’m excited to see what turns Eddie’s story takes next.
Falling Down
There are times it’s easy to think of Kyle Starks as “the guy who writes all that humor stuff,” but he has a darker and more serious side to him as well. This issue does a great job reminding us of that. I enjoyed getting such a broad view of the whole world this series takes place in, although I’m still not sure what purpose the Goblin Shark scenes served. And I can’t help but think that George’s health taking a turn for the worse mere issues after a fake-out shooting death feels a little cheap. But, I freely admit I don’t know where Starks is going with it, so I’ll reserve judgment.
Steve Pugh gets to show his darker side this issue as well, with many of the situations here not calling for his trademark exaggerated facial expressions. Eddie’s treatment by his captors is horrible, and the beating he endures when he tries to escape is brutal. He does still get to flex the comedy muscles in the Goblin Shark scenes, but for the rest of the issue he plays things pretty straight.
To go along with the darker story and art, Chris O’Halloran also brings in a less bright color palette this issue. Smiley’s prison and Eddie’s cell are both grim and drab. Even the normally bright and sunny town of Pluto seems to be under a cloud this time around. Everything works together to show just how quickly fortunes have changed for Eddie and company.
Shot in the Dark
End of Life #7 brings a dark turn for the series, as things are looking pretty dire for Eddie Stallion and the people of Pluto. The series needed to dial back the comedy bits a little, and this issue does just that. Things were starting to feel a bit predictable, but now there’s no telling where Eddie’s story is going to end up.