First time checking out Damaged? Check out my interview with creator Michael Schwarz here: part one and part two.
It’s that time again: another month, another issue of Damaged from Full Clip Productions. The holidays are around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with some good ol’ fashioned vigilantism?
I’ve already given the series as high praise as I think can be given: great story, explosive action, great artwork. And that all is just is as true as ever. Issue #3 left me wanting more, and with the introduction of some surprising background story for Henry in issue #4, the readers really get some insight into what’s made Henry the man he is today. With the brothers still each on their own separate paths again, though, I find myself looking forward to the shit that’ll fly when they finally meet again more than I care about the two of them apart.
And the buildup is there. Frank is planning on their next meeting, Henry is training his protege – but at the same time, this issue felt like a lot of waiting for things to happen, rather than things actually happening. There’s bound to be some downtime, and after the action from last time, the lull was inevitable.
I felt as though some of the dialogue stumbled this time around, largely due to multiple shifts in perspective and a couple of strangely placed narrations. While the art was as gritty and realistic as ever, the jarring transitions from scene to scene didn’t work as strongly in favor of the story as they usually do.
That said, while I did feel as though this issue is the calm before the storm, it’s certainly not boring. Issue #4 of Damaged is definitely alluding to bigger and more exciting things on the horizon, and with next month’s issue being the penultimate, it’s bound to ramp up quickly. I can’t wait.
Damaged #4 hits stands this Wednesday, December 7th. You can check out a six-page preview here!
Check out the preview from the download above and let us know what you think in comments!
