Lynx #4 - G-Man Comics

LYNX No. 4, May 2024

Whilst Issue Four of “Lynx” may well carry the name of Mateo Martinez and Maya Santiago’s alter-egos across the top of its cover, Rik Offenberger’s script for “Broken Wing” is most definitely all about the enthralling origin story of Vencejo and Pollita. In fact, in many ways, the titular characters are arguably portrayed as the ‘bad guys’ in this book, due to the super-duo disconcertingly bringing the aforementioned unregistered vigilantes into custody; “Let him go and I’ll go into foster care. Don’t punish him.”

Equally as disturbing though, has to be the decidedly underhand behaviour of Director Jameson, who disagreeably uses the ‘father/daughter’ bond between his two current captives to his advantage. Both Vencejo and Pollita’s backstories are extremely heart-wrenching, and despite the minor becoming a crime-fighter at an incredibly young age, it is difficult not to have great sympathy for their predicament with the Authorities. Resultantly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s leader forcing Lynx to swear loyalty only to him if he’ll release his prisoners smacks of pure evil, and seemingly does not bode well for anyone concerned with the future of Washington DC's caped agent's programme.

Somewhat surprisingly given all these serious shenanigans, this twenty-page periodical also contains some genuinely laugh-out-moments, most notably the running gag of Mateo needing to get a “cup” after an enraged Pollita kicks him squarely in the nether regions. In addition, there’s some wonderful tongue-in-cheek fun to be found with this comic’s opening action sequence as the quite literal firebug Fuego realises he’s clearly bitten off more than he can chew by confronting Martinez, and weirdly attempts to take some moral high ground over the protagonist’s willingness to risk people’s lives simply to take the villain down.

Visually adding an incredible amount of ‘bang for your buck’ in this publication are Alan Faria’s layouts, which are absolutely crammed full of dynamic action – even when Ricardo Tapia is simply feeding his adolescent protégé at McTasty’s and discovers the homeless girl can’t yet read. The Brazilian illustrator also imbues the luchador Vencejo with all the aggressive angst an audience might expect from a man whose own beloved child was brutally murdered by cold-blooded racketeers, and this helps generate plenty of sympathy for the rogue vigilante when he’s later ambushed by the G-Men.

The regular cover art to "LYNX" #4 by Alan Faria