End of Life #3
Writer: Kyle Starks
Artist: Steven Pugh
Colorist:Chris O’Halloran
I have no idea how I’m going to review this book and keep it family-friendly. I’m going to try, but no promises. So just to be safe, let’s put one of these on here:
Secret Herbs and Violence
Richard Smiley, a formerly famous cartoonist turned crime lord, has a problem. Its name is Eddie Stallion (although he doesn't know that). None of his usual problem-solvers are available, so Smiley reaches out to a guy who bought him drinks a while back: a chicken-masked member of the Menagerie who goes by "Big Cock."
Eddie finds his dad locked in the bathroom, having fallen and had an accident. In a remarkable moment of personal growth, Eddie busts open the door and helps his father. Granted, his eyes were closed the whole time, but baby steps, right? Afterwards, in the middle of the night, Eddie finds himself back at the gas station for snacks. Here he once again runs into Sophie, aka the One Who Got Away. They have a short talk, and Sophie reveals that Eddie is suffering from actually having feelings about his father dying, which he of course denies.
The next day, Emily the piemaker shows up at Eddie's father George's door with a freshly-baked pie, a "thank you" for Eddie for taking care of those thugs the other day. While talking, she reveals that there is a large man in a suit and a chicken mask sitting at the diner in town. George tries to tell Eddie where he has a safehouse outside of town, but the stubborn assassin refuses to run from a chicken, so he heads into town to meet the man face-to-face.
In the diner, Eddie quickly finds that the chicken-headed man only says one thing, "Big Cock," which also appears to be his name. Eddie figures out that BC doesn't know he's the Menagerie member with a price on his head - at least he doesn't until after he sees the bounty listing on his phone while Eddie is rambling on.
The brutish chicken-man starts beating Eddie all over town, with their brawl eventually spilling over to the frequently-vistited gas station. Here, Eddie douses BC in gasoline and lights him on fire, which still isn't enough to stop the brute! Eddie flees into the woods, where the bodies of the Murder Brothers still lay, along with their weapons. Before Eddie can fine, BC finally falls over, scorched and very dead.
Back at George's house, the Menagerie tracked Drahthaar believes he has found where Eddie Stallion is hiding - but instead of Eddie, he finds himself faced with the business end of George's gun!
No Clucking Way
This book has been a lot more fun than I expected it to be.
I generally have a very low tolerance for "loud-mouthed unrepentant asshole" characters, which is what Eddie Stallion seems to be at first blush. Fortunately, he is proving to have more depth and even heart than that, so I find myself actually rooting for him. This issue, he shows great growth, especially when it comes to his father. Just two issues ago, he wouldn't have gone into that bathroom to help George, but now he did. I still think he is too much of a jerk to Sophie, but I can rationalize that as him not knowing how to talk to her after so long.
We get to see another Menagerie assassin for the first time, in the form of the chicken-themed Big Cock. His only saying his name, like a more perverse "I am Groot," was really funny. Despite the inherent silliness, he was a formidable foe who really gave Eddie a run for his money.
I like seeing how quickly the town has warmed up to Eddie, and you can see him starting to put down a few roots there (even if he doesn't notice it or want to admit it). The cast of characters there is so eclectic that you can't help but like them and feel bad for all the trouble that Eddie has brought to their doors. Hopefully, we'll continue to see more of them as the series continues.
Side Chicks
Kyle Starks has mastered the art of the "lovable piece of trash" character, and he uses those skills to great effect here for Eddie Stallion. Eddie is showing great personal growth, but at the same time is still the same snarky jerk he's always been. Pacing-wise, Starks keeps things moving at a good clip, never letting things slow down or get boring. He's also got some great comedy chops, leaving us with some very funny moments throughout the book.
Steve Pugh's art is perfect for this book, and this month, he really gets to cut loose in the action department. His Big Cock character is intimidating, yet ridiculous-looking at the same time. The fight between Eddie and BC is well-staged, with some amusing or just plain ridiculous moments throughout it.
Chris O'Halloran's colors continue to perfectly complement Pugh's art, giving us a strong overall look. The fight scene with BC is where the most variety and creativity is applied, but there really isn't a bad spot in the whole book.
Playing Chicken
End of Life #3 is a great issue, giving us a fun Family Guy-inspired brawl with an amusing new foe, while giving Eddie Stallion some much-needed character growth. If Big Cock is an example of what we can expect from future members of the Menagerie, we're going to have some really entertaining foils for Eddie as the series continues. Eddie seems to be finding himself a little bit of a home in this town of misfits, and I'm sure that won't last long-term, but I'm enjoying it while I can.
End of Life has been the perfect example of a book that punches higher than I expected it to, it's gone from a book that I was only marginally curious about to one that I genuinely look forward to reading each month. Kudos to the creative team for taking a lead that's utter garbage on paper, and making him interesting and sympathetic enough that you can't help but root for him.