First of all, let me start by giving a HUGE THANK YOU to reader @fuglycharlie for sending me a TON of comics in the mail. Seriously...there's more there than I can review in a YEAR! His contribution is making this new section/type of review possible.
The first comic that I'm reviewing is "Cloak and Dagger" issue #1 from back in 1963 (I think I read that right...It might say 1983 my eyes are giving out on me at the ripe old age of 19). I'm so, so lucky to have gotten ALL FOUR of these in my package, because I couldn't go on not being able to read them all.
I'm not sure why, but I found this comic to be completely intriguing. The comic opens with a pastor/priest (whatever you prefer) reaching out to all of the "lost souls" of his city. The man is made to look even more frail and defenseless than he would normally by the muscled, tattooed thugs. The police, fearing for his safety send him back to his chapel, where he kneels to pray. Out of nowhere, there's a flash of light. Enter Cloak and Dagger. The pair ask for refuge and the pastor cannot refuse. The comic then flashes to a couple of junkies who, found in an alley, are shaking uncontrollably. Questioned by the precinct, one says that he only remembers a couple of vigilantes.
Next, the comic follows a couple of kids who, after running away from home, find themselves in New York City. Waiting for them at the bus stop are...well...bad guys. :) They're preying on the runaways. Soon, the boy and girl are lured into an attic with food. They're attacked by the group of thugs and Cloak and Dagger interfere. The pair fight off the thugs, but in the crossfire, the boy is killed. Hearing the commotion, a police officer enters to see the pair, the thugs, and the dead boy. Confused by how the boy could have been killed, Dagger is distraught over the fact that he is dead. Cloak and Dagger disappear to the pastor's home.
I'm not sure why, but I found the idea of vigilantes at conflict with self interesting. Not only that, but in this instance, the rescue didn't go as planned and there was a causality. In most comics, the "super" part of "superhero" implies that nothing will go wrong...that no one will be harmed. The fact that Dagger shows so much emotion over the lost boy is also interesting. Cloak, being male, would naturally be less sensitive than Dagger, a female. But the difference between them is more than their gender and their garb...it's how they perceive their roles. I do believe that Dagger has higher expectations for herself and personally throws her heart into her work while Cloak sees himself as someone who's there to do a job. Either way, the comic was very interesting and the characters are definitely not bland.
Well...
Creativity of Writing: 5/5 Don't ask me why, but I love this plot. There's a pair who couldn't be any more different (I suppose one could be evil and the other good...) but somehow, they work together for a common cause. I love that Dagger has so much emotion and often has a hard time understanding circumstances or rules. Cloak is extremely gruff, and he balances out Dagger's tender heart towards those in trouble. The pair are close, and I love that. The comic was very easy to read, very easy to understand, and narrated beautifully. I honestly can't wait to crack open the next one.
Creativity of Art: 3/5 The art is typical of the time. It's nothing too special. It's just...the norm for comic books of the time. I'm not saying it's bad. I believe that art in comics wasn't as developed then as it is now. The comic is more story-oriented. I do love the colors and some of the panels that show Cloak and Dagger disappearing and reappearing. Cloak holding Dagger is also a beautiful thing to see.
Overall Casual Read Rating: 4/5 Overall, a good read. I found it very interesting and I want to read more. Even if you don't have access to the others, I suggest it, anyway. I felt fulfilled in reading only one issue.
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