To hunt the ancient General Immortus, Peacemaker brought along his own relic from the Golden Age, Richard Raleigh, aka the Red Bee. Thankfully, the elderly villain is nothing if not predictable – McShoney’s Early Bird Special is irresistible to those of a certain age bracket. With the future of Immortus’ pecan pie in the balance, will the villain give this new dynamic duo the information they need to save Bruce Wayne? Or will the villain’s desert find its end along with Peacemaker’s precious pooch? Hopefully, the interrogation techniques they practiced in the car moments before walking in the door pay off.
“Dude, I honestly don’t get how you can be so positive all the time.”
DC Comics
Without a doubt, Peacemaker Tries Hard! #4 is some of the most fun I’ve had reading a comic in a long time. Kyle Starks’ script is pitch-perfect. Every punchline is flawlessly executed, culminating in a hilarious haymaker that will leave you smiling. Starks’ work is bolstered by Steve Pugh’s artwork, Jordie Bellaire’s colors, and Becca Carey’s letters. The trio nails the visual component of the characters’ antics, fueling the humor of every moment. The result is an absolute knockout that begs to be read by fans of Christopher Smith.
One of the biggest reservations I initially had regarding the series was whether Kyle Starks could keep this style of humor fresh or if it would begin to stink like Bruce Wayne’s sunbaked dog biscuits. It’s safe to say that Starks has alleviated my concerns with Peacemaker Tries Hard! #4. A large portion of the writer’s success is in his mastery of every character’s voice. In previous reviews, I’ve discussed how Starks has perfectly recreated John Cena’s inflection and delivery of each punchline. This remains true for this issue. However, the writer gets a lot of mileage through his masterful handling of each character’s personality.
As Peacemaker and the Red Bee interrogate General Immortus regarding the location of the Brain’s base, Starks imbues more humor into the situation by playing into the character’s personalities. Immortus’ been-there-done-that attitude allows Starks to subvert the reader’s expectations as the ancient villain relents to Peacemaker’s over-the-top threats of violence. It’s impossible not to laugh out loud as Immortus gives up everything he knows in exchange for his pie being left alone.
Between the buddy cops calling Amanda Waller for help and battling Snowflame, this same praise can be given for every sequence throughout Peacemaker Tries Hard! #4. However, Peacemaker and the Red Bee’s capture at the hands of Snowflame is the best part of this issue. This sequence demonstrates the creators’ brand of action and humor that makes this series perfect for Black Label. Following an intense battle, Peacemaker’s creative disposal of the cocaine-powered supervillain is incredibly satisfying. Starks’ excellent execution of the payoff to this Chekhov’s gun scenario will leave you in stitches.
My only criticism for this issue is that it does little to build depth to the characters as Peacemaker and the Red Bee bounce from one plot point to the next. Despite one short sequence detailing Red Bee’s service during World War II, there is little else for anyone seeking greater depth. However, this is ultimately forgivable, as Peacemaker Tries Hard #4 is not designed to be an intense character study. Instead, Starks and the rest of the creative team entertain the reader with their trademark blend of humor and action.
“No one tries to feed me or my friends to piranhas.”
DC Comics
Peacemaker Tries Hard! #4 would not be as successful without Steve Pugh’s artwork, Jordie Bellaire’s colors, and Becca Carey’s letters. The trio nails the visual aspects of the characters’ antics, fueling the humor in every sequence. Not only does Pugh’s artwork perfectly capture the cinematic nature of each action sequence, but also each character’s wide range of facial expressions. I love Jordie Bellaire’s use of red and yellow hues to highlight tense and dynamic moments. Moreover, the creators perfectly punctuate these moments by juxtaposing this color with several of Peacemaker’s punchlines. Additionally, Carey’s humorous onomatopoeia accentuates every visual gag throughout the issue.
Ultimately, Peacemaker Tries Hard! #4 is the most fun I’ve had reading a comic in quite some time. Kyle Starks’ script is pitch-perfect, using a masterful handling of each character’s personality to add variety to each joke and punchline. All this would be impossible without Steve Pugh’s artwork, Jordie Bellaire’s colors, and Becca Carey’s letters. The trio perfectly conveys the visual aspect of each gag. Additionally, the creative team perfectly captures the cinematic nature of each action sequence. The result is an absolute knockout that demands a read by fans of Christopher Smith.
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