Reviews of graphic novels and comic book collections every Tuesday and Thursday.


Please Note: All Amazon prices are current the day of the review. Prices may change without notice.

 
Pretenders by Itzik Rennert
Pretenders (2001, Actus Tragicus) is the fifth and final book in the Actus Box Series that I've reviewed over the past couple of weeks. Itzik Rennert illustrates two stories in this volume. Like the other creators in the group, Rennert has a style that is rarely seen in American comics. While this might not appeal to all readers, the different color palette used and the odd depiction of people is a welcome change from much graphic literature.

The title story (making up most of the book) is about a down on his luck cab driver who hooks up with a business woman who works at a scientific facility. The woman gives the cab driver a chance to work on his paintings, but when he is unable to paint and she becomes suspicious of him riding around in his cab all the time, it sets of a chain of events involving a murder, a cover-up, and a clone. If Rennert had an extra few pages, he might have been able to make this story a bit clearer. As is, it is a good story, but leaves the reader with some questions about the plot.

The second story, "Personal Involvement," follows another chain of events again with science, in the form of plastic surgery playing a part. It takes a strange meta-twist when we step out of the story and begin reading about the artist of the story. The artist becomes a part of the story although in a unique way.

I've said it elsewhere in these reviews, but it is worth repeating: these books are worth picking up because of their originality. They don't always work, but as a whole, it is easy to respect the work that the members of Actus Tragicus do and the manner in which they do it.

Pretenders 2.5 stars (out of 5)
posted by Sean McGurr at 8:32 AM