Mike@Pilots Chamber
03-16-2010, 01:46 PM
D'Argo's Quest, the third comic series starring... uhm... D'Argo, has been released and makes for a great little read!
Set between seasons 3 and 4, D'Argo is hunting for Macton. However, he soon comes across a familiar face - Raxil (Scratch 'n' Sniff). Raxil, claiming to have information on Macton's whereabouts, soon gets the duo arrested by the local enforcement. The cops want them both to infiltrate a local crimelord's syndicate or face eighty cycles in prison (Raxil's not made many friends!) so the two offer to steal a priceless gem for Philo, the crimelord in question. Doesn't work and D'Argo and Raxil get arrested again. Raxil reveals she doesn't know the whereabouts of Macton. Needless to say, Philo's done his research and good old Braca comes a'calling, resulting in D'Argo's escape. Unwittingly though, Raxil has stowed away on Lo'la - and continues annoying him!
The story here is particularly good and has been fleshed out well. There are a fair few little scenes that could've easily been left out but thankfully weren't. The first few pages introduce Philo and his crime world, whilst there's a great set-piece during the robbery where D'Argo must take on Brindz Hounds and security drones whilst Raxil tries to break the lock to the gem. Great stuff.
Also of note is the script - it sounds perfect. Raxil reads exactly as she sounds - constantly jabbering on with her cockney accent - and D'Argo's got some great lines, in particular when Raxil gets them arrested (repeatedly) - including "I will kill you with my hands!" and the more lengthy "They will not imprison you, because I will have ripped your head from your body and stepped on it several dozen times. This will upset me for two reasons. I do not wish to be imprisoned again. And you can't tell me where Macton is if I've ripped your head off and stepped on it several dozen times."
Artwork is once again handled by Caleb Cleveland, and pulled off superbly. Whilst his work on D'Argo's Trial was a lot lighter, this time it's darker and a lot more industrial and works brilliantly. The way the characters and scenery are rendered and lit gives it brilliant depth. There's some brilliant shots, in particular the enforcement descending on D'Argo and Raxil in #1, the story of the gem in #2, and Lo'la arriving in #4.
The covers, or at least the ones I've seen, are all pretty excellent. I managed to pick up 1A, 1B, 2B, 3B and 4B. I was very tempted to get 4A as well but decided against it (there's a recession on and all). They were all incredible, with my favourite being 4B's D'Argo with Lo'la against a ruined backdrop (3B's Raxil with a huge gun and cigar is a close second, only because it makes me laugh).
There's nothing really that I can say that's bad about this series. The artwork is great (I do like how it seems more rough around the edges - gives it more depth). The script is brilliant (how many times did you watch Scratch 'n' Sniff KRAD?). The only thing, I think, that's lacking is the story - it didn't interest me as much as others have, but I think that's only because it didn't follow the adventures of the rest of the crew in the main storyline of the comics, and is instead a spin-off. I'm sorely tempted to give it a 5, but for fairness sake I'll go for a 4.
Set between seasons 3 and 4, D'Argo is hunting for Macton. However, he soon comes across a familiar face - Raxil (Scratch 'n' Sniff). Raxil, claiming to have information on Macton's whereabouts, soon gets the duo arrested by the local enforcement. The cops want them both to infiltrate a local crimelord's syndicate or face eighty cycles in prison (Raxil's not made many friends!) so the two offer to steal a priceless gem for Philo, the crimelord in question. Doesn't work and D'Argo and Raxil get arrested again. Raxil reveals she doesn't know the whereabouts of Macton. Needless to say, Philo's done his research and good old Braca comes a'calling, resulting in D'Argo's escape. Unwittingly though, Raxil has stowed away on Lo'la - and continues annoying him!
The story here is particularly good and has been fleshed out well. There are a fair few little scenes that could've easily been left out but thankfully weren't. The first few pages introduce Philo and his crime world, whilst there's a great set-piece during the robbery where D'Argo must take on Brindz Hounds and security drones whilst Raxil tries to break the lock to the gem. Great stuff.
Also of note is the script - it sounds perfect. Raxil reads exactly as she sounds - constantly jabbering on with her cockney accent - and D'Argo's got some great lines, in particular when Raxil gets them arrested (repeatedly) - including "I will kill you with my hands!" and the more lengthy "They will not imprison you, because I will have ripped your head from your body and stepped on it several dozen times. This will upset me for two reasons. I do not wish to be imprisoned again. And you can't tell me where Macton is if I've ripped your head off and stepped on it several dozen times."
Artwork is once again handled by Caleb Cleveland, and pulled off superbly. Whilst his work on D'Argo's Trial was a lot lighter, this time it's darker and a lot more industrial and works brilliantly. The way the characters and scenery are rendered and lit gives it brilliant depth. There's some brilliant shots, in particular the enforcement descending on D'Argo and Raxil in #1, the story of the gem in #2, and Lo'la arriving in #4.
The covers, or at least the ones I've seen, are all pretty excellent. I managed to pick up 1A, 1B, 2B, 3B and 4B. I was very tempted to get 4A as well but decided against it (there's a recession on and all). They were all incredible, with my favourite being 4B's D'Argo with Lo'la against a ruined backdrop (3B's Raxil with a huge gun and cigar is a close second, only because it makes me laugh).
There's nothing really that I can say that's bad about this series. The artwork is great (I do like how it seems more rough around the edges - gives it more depth). The script is brilliant (how many times did you watch Scratch 'n' Sniff KRAD?). The only thing, I think, that's lacking is the story - it didn't interest me as much as others have, but I think that's only because it didn't follow the adventures of the rest of the crew in the main storyline of the comics, and is instead a spin-off. I'm sorely tempted to give it a 5, but for fairness sake I'll go for a 4.