Skullkickers #14
Written By Jim Zubkavich
Art By Edwin Huang
Color By Misty Coats
Image Comics
Release Date: May 9, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

A portion of the official description of Skullkickers #14 reads, “Secrets revealed. The gun. The gun. The gun. The gun. The gun. The gun. The gun”¦” and continues on 12 more times. It is no surprise to say that this issue of Skullkickers is about one thing and one thing only. The gun. There has been much hype surrounding issue 14 since the secrets of Baldy and his gun were teased at Image Comic Expo. Well, now it’s here and rest assured Skullkickers fans, secrets are in fact revealed. Skullkickers #14 doesn’t dance around the secrets either. Questions are answered as directly as a gunshot that will leave your mind blown.

There are few possible ways to review this comic without giving away spoilers. The most that can be said about Skullkickers #14 is that, this issue could possibly take our favorite mercenaries in a completely new direction. With so much anticipation surrounding this issue, it could have been very easy to be left disappointed with it. However, issue 14 provides satisfying reveals and brings up more than a few new mysteries involving Shorty and Baldy. Writer Jim Zubkavich doesn’t throw out mysteries just for the sake of confounding readers either. Every plot twist feels natural to the stories progression in a way that promises huge things on the horizon.

Artist Edwin Huang and colorist Misty Coats, as usual, put their immense talent on display for this issue. In action comics, there seems to be a tendency to draw characters like action figures. Men are illustrated, as insanely muscled people with interchangeable heads and female characters tend to resemble porn stars. This is why the artwork of Huang is so refreshing. Characters are drawn with an exaggerated sense of proportion that pays homage to the muscle bound style of action comics without seeming trite. Coats also picks up on this Sunday morning cartoon sensibility with a bold and bright color palette.

Skullkickers continues to be one the funniest, well written and visually appealing action comics on shelves right now. Skullkickers #14 does more than provide long awaited answers. It further proves that this is a creative team at the top of their game.