Astiberri is releasing the latest piece in the Black Hammer universe designed by the prolific Jeff Lemire. It focuses on his difficult relationship with his student, in collaboration with a city guard and Tonči Zonjić.
It is one of the most classic archetypes and one of the most accepted in the superhero genre. helpersuperhero’s sidekick. It can be understood as a natural evolution of the knightly squire, as the genre is somewhat the heir to the knightly romances (and classical mythology, if you look at it…). In any case, he is a figure who has always been there and has been understood and reinterpreted in a thousand ways.
But his most canonical view is also the most problematic. And it tends to be taken for granted that the vigilante’s partner in distress must be a young person… And this is understood as if it were natural. The importance of this dramatic element was not questioned until the most revisionist comics came along… What virtuous character could endanger a child such an animal? The last thing a child should experience is a life of violence. Yet it has been interpreted as normal for generations.
Yes, it’s fiction and anything should be possible there. But if fiction is to be of minimal relevance, it must have a trace of reality and partly shape it. Some caution should be exercised in the messages intended to be given to the public. Because after all, they can be imitated as they appear…
It’s such a thing Jeff Lemire taken into account several times. He is one of the writers who is treated with the greatest care to create a morally perfect body of work, driven by integrity. He also dared to consider one by one the many conventions of the genre.† Every piece of his own created superhero universe, black hammerThey went from tribute to deconstruction with surprising ease. With more or less success, it managed to pass through a very personal filter, both positive and negative, which brought the genre’s popularity. Yes Skullcracker and the Skeleton Boy would not be left behind.
What this story is trying to convey is nothing more than examining how legitimate it is to place children at the center of a circle of revenge. And how does parenting based on violence and abuse of power never lead to a climate of peace. In addition to the possibility of breaking this string of aggression and putting an end to certain behaviors that do not lead to a very harmonious place with it. A risky twist that opens up a new range of possibilities.
The premise here is that Skullcracker, a cross between Batman and the Punisher, forcibly murders a robber who ends the existence of a child’s parents before their eyes. A boy watching as a guard provokes the robber. At this point, Skull Cracker sees the potential in the orphan and recruits him into his battle.† All this in the context of elections in Spiral City, a deeply corrupt city. And if that’s not enough, a bad guy will blow everything up.
The references are more than obvious, but it did manage to create an atmosphere of instinct and violence more typical of a more mature story genre. In addition, it constantly plays to increase the level of complexity in the characters, which is quite shocking. There is a repertoire of shades of gray that greatly enriches the reading and encourages the reader to reconsider their own ideas. The script dives surprisingly and shockingly into a theme that overwhelms anyone who dares to look beyond entertainment.
It’s not a piece to everyone’s taste, but it’s one that has a deeply grim component. So it’s very refreshing. And this is nothing new. every time you read black hammerIt is very difficult to see the species again with the same eyes. This is because it raises issues that are often not addressed. But in this case it is especially true. It shows that it is a product that has been prepared with a very special care. There is a certain difficult thing that is appreciated as soon as the book is opened.
Traces of the Canadian author’s style are clearly so valuable that it would have originally become a comic he had drawn himself. In any case, family and fatherhood once again play a central role in a plot unfolded in a cyclical plot and told with a jarring rhythm. Anyone who knows the author will be shocked by the fatalism and romantic aspect of the work. And those who do not know him will be exposed to a most provocative new sensibility. In any case, she’s a very talented and prolific writer, and it’s amazing how she (almost) always does her best.† And this is still an example of that.
drawing Tonci Zonjic stunned by the use of a clear line and style animated movie† And it does so because it’s an unmistakable style for such a dark and brutal story. But it works nonetheless. And this happens because it is told from the perspective of a child who discovers a world he has no access to. The artist understands this and has tried to give every page a pop component and more dynamic than net. He is also an ambitious artist in some of the stylistic and compositional decisions, the delightful design of the characters, and the environment that fits this universe beautifully. And it is always detailed. An amazing piece of work.
The same adjectives can be used to refer to your color decisions. Each world, each perspective, is dominated by a completely different palette that clearly characterizes each of the characters. All color choices (or lack thereof) come from a seemingly exhaustive thought exercise.† A work that is somehow invisible, but fits perfectly and exponentially enhances an already perfect drawing.
Astiberri’s volume is full of compelling extras that give the reader an insight into the creative process behind this piece. It is a print in which the love for it is evident because it is so complete. It represents the beginning of the second stage of the universe. black hammer And where it will go remains to be determined.
Skullcracker and the Skeleton Boy another job in this universe black hammer† But that’s never bad news because it’s more or less a celebration of everything you love about superhero comics. But it does not come from blind love, but from a critical approach that dares to enter into an argument. That’s more than can be said for most of the two wonders comics. Another comic from a universe that will not leave you indifferent. And if more come with this courage, they will be welcomed.
It just cracks your head like the best comics do. Of course, the title is not deceiving.
