Art by J. M. Ken Niimura
I'm glad to see Joe Kelly making a return to comics - especially creator-owned books through Image.
This series tells the story of Barbara, a very disturbed young girl who apparently kills giants with the help of her mighty hammer Coveleski, which she keeps in a purse at her side.
We see, as the series progresses, that there is something seriously wrong with this kid. What at first seems like an amusing magical-realist fantasy story is in fact a comic about a little girl who's life has some dark, terrifying secrets, and she is dealing with them by retreating into her own fantasy world.
This issue starts to shed some light on what is really going on here: the school psychologist and Barbara's older sister both talk about her parents, but we don't know what they are saying, as their dialogue is blacked out and obscured (and not like in All-Star Batman and Robin - we really can't read it). As well, Barbara pulls out her hammer to finally deal with the bullies that have been plaguing her since the start of the series.
This comic is subtle and well-paced. The art, which is often cartoony, aids the story immensely. I especially like the way Niimura adds in the fantastical elements that only Barbara can see (we assume).
Highly recommended.
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