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| KINGS WATCH No. 4, December 2013 |
Issue Four of “Kings Watch” begins with a very simple sentence which
reads “Earth’s defenders have joined forces, but it’s too late.” and this really
does sum up much of the content of the previous two issues; idle inactivity as
writer Jeff Parker slowly positions his 'playing pieces' and eventually brings all the main
antagonists together.
Fortunately this edition of “Dynamite Publications”
five-issue mini-series desperately tries to readdress the balance and churns
out some serious action-packed adventure as the invaders from Mongo attempt to
conquer the Earth.
Naturally Emperor Ming’s spearhead strikes London, the heart
of the British Empire and the greatest threat to his plans for world
domination. As a result artist Marc Laming gets to illustrate some cracking
panels depicting the British military desperately trying to fend off Lionmen
and Rhinomen from Downing Street. Enter The Phantom, Flash
Gordon and the misdirecting Mandrake and there’s plenty of very well-drawn carnage for a reader to enjoy. A particular highlight being the rather nice ‘double-page spread’ of the
battle for Westminster, the political capital of her Majesty's government, where the linear flow of the panels really adds to the sense of action and
excitement.
Laming also seems to try and cram in as many of the different races
of Mongo as an Alex Raymond fan could encounter this side of a Thirties thirteen-installment
Buster Crabbe film serial. As a result the penciller has Hawkmen, giant
lizards, Wolfmen, Boarmen, Minotaurs and water-breathing Lizardmen all making
an appearance; not forgetting the Emperor’s own forces, the white-armoured
soldiers of Mongo. Which admittedly look disconcertingly similar to George Lucas' stormtroopers but with a fin stuck to top of their helmets. In addition we also finally get a chance
to actually see Ming the Merciless in all his despicable dastardliness, as the
Emperor nicely bookends the issue.
This really is a very good comic book with both
Parker and Laming clearly well on top of their games. Even during one of the
quieter moments in the book, when the heroes ‘retreat’ to Skull Cave, there’s
some lovely interplay between Zarkov and ‘The Ghost Who Walks’, and then Lothar
with Mandrake as the friends briefly squabble over the attention of the
witch-doctor Karma. The illustration work depicting The Phantom’s secret lair
is also excellent, with a real blending of Pirates of the Caribbean and primitive African
culture.
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| The variant cover art of "KINGS MEN" No. 4 by Ramon Perez |
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