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Published by: Image Comics
Released on: Mar. 12, 2014
Writer: Kel Symons
Artist: Mathew Reynolds
Cover: Mathew Reynolds
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Kindle edition
Last issue ended in a cliffhanger and picks up this month right at that point. Jack Harper and his crew are met at the docks by Admiral Shi Nengu on behalf of the Chinese government. It appears that Jack stole his submarine from them and they want it back. They also want him to face the music in the form of execution. The stand-off goes right where one would hope it would: a big fire fight. During the gun battle Jack's dog Friday nearly crosses the rainbow bridge (spoiler alert: the dog escapes unharmed). If they kill the dog I'll be pissed…but I'll still keep reading this comic as it's too good to ignore.
After the action, the mysterious Mr. Taylor introduces them to Commander Graham of the Royal British Navy. The Commander has a proposition for them: go into enemy territory and retrieve a top spy, codename Top Hat. He has vital intelligence for both the British and the Americans, which explains Mr. Taylor's interest in the whole affair. Jack and the crew don't trust the two me; in fact the German boat operator Renner all but calls Commander Graham a liar. But Jack agrees to do it all the same for $3,000. The mission will be a dangerous one, going into Japanese controlled portions of China. And they'd better not forget the Chinese didn't just go away after their encounter earlier in the issue.
Kel Symons' characters are showing some more depth in this issue than in the last, making his characters all the more likable. It's evident not everyone on board the sub is exactly pleased with the decisions their fearless leader has made as of late so there's a little drama going on there. The mechanical wizard that is Samantha has the hots for Jack, so there's some tension building there as well. The artwork continues on its boner-inducing path with its beauty and originality, as Mathew Reynolds' talent continues to impress. His use of colors and minimal line use creates an image that is at times very striking, and his technique gives his panels depth and almost a three-dimensional look which elevates the book to be the top-shelf material that it is.
If you haven't given this title a look yet, you're missing out. Issue number three cannot arrive fast enough. Yes, it's that good. A pre-World War II timeline, plenty of high-adventure, and wartime espionage…the title is great comic book reading.
