Sadly, all good things must come to an end, including Dying is Easy, writer Joe Hill and artist Martin Simmonds’s five-part murder mystery. We’ve watched Syd “Sh*t Talk” Homes run around town trying to prove his innocence in the death of comedian Carl Dixon. Issue #5 wraps the storyline up in a neat little bow as only Joe Hill could do. Syd proves that even when the chips are down (or your pants in his case), you keep fighting until the fight is done.
This was by far my favorite issue. The issue picks up right where the last one left off, with Syd going after the culprit who he thinks killed joke stealing comic, Carl Dixon. Hill doesn’t waste any time and we get right to the good stuff, revealing the actual killer and adding some awesome twists that you won’t even see coming by the book’s end. This issue also does an amazing job at showing despite how many people hate Syd, he was a really good cop.
His detective skills go into maximum overdrive as he peels back layers and layers of evidence to prove himself not guilty. It kind of reminds me of great old school television shows like Columbo starring Peter Falk. Like the show, Dying is Easy #5 puts the pieces of the crime together in a way that presents a great moment of clarity for the character and the reader. Mash that together with great pacing, funny, and spot-on dialogue, and you can’t go wrong.
In terms of the illustrations, Simmonds’ linework helps capture and bring out the raw emotion in this story. The images are rough, gritty, scratchy, and most importantly, heartfelt. It helps tell the tale the way it should be. This is a story about a guy who’s made a lot of mistakes in life, who’s trying to be somewhat on the right track, and then life happens. You get all that from Simmonds’ artwork.
Dying is Easy #5 is a fantastic read and a great way to end the series. In my honest opinion, Syd proves that he’s still a better cop than he’ll ever be as a comedian. Perhaps Hill will consider bringing Homes back to solve more criminal cases in the future. In the meantime, make sure to pick up this book and the other four if you haven’t already.
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