Things go from bad to so much worse in “Kinski” # 4. Gabriel Hardman exposes some of Joe’s frustrations and allows readers to see a more complicated portrait of the man we thought we knew. Joe won’t back down, and through his steadfast determination the cracks in his crusade spread.
WRITTEN BY: Gabriel Hardman
ART BY: Gabriel Hardman
PUBLISHER: Monkeybrain Comics
PRICE: $0.99
GET IT HERE: http://www.monkeybraincomics.com/
Joe is stranded in the middle of a sprawling trailer park, late for work, and frantically searching for a dog he feels responsible for. This mobile home community may as well be a labyrinth but instead of a Minotaur the oafish occupants guard what Joe seeks most. Hardman does a fantastic job at creating a frantic pace for this issue. Joe’s determination is sweeping and alarming. It’s understandable because he finally wants to give Kinski back, but he lets his temper get the best of him and because of this he alienates everyone around him.
Hardman’s art is clean and ambitious. His bold style owes a lot to the comic greats that started the medium. I see a lot of John Romita SR in his work, and it goes a great way to characterize this story. “Kinski” feels like the aftermath of an old Sunday newspaper 3 panel comic about a silly misunderstanding. The sprawling panel of the trailer park, or the impact of a fist really shows off Hardman’s skill. His paneling is clean and communicates the story flawlessly.
The story is remarkably tight and well thought out. It’s deceptively simple but manages to spiral out of control and become a character study. Why is Joe so resistant to let go? Why is he so determined? And what has to happen for him to give up?
His flaws and his relation to the dog are slowly bubbling to the surface to reveal a complex underbelly of motivation. I wish I had more of it right now. With each successive chapter I become more entrenched in Joe’s struggle and more critical of his behavior. Where things go from here is anyone’s guess, but I’m fairly sure Joe isn’t about to give up. Which again begs the question as to why.
Rating: 4/5 Skulls.