Written by Kevin Smith
Art by Jonathon Lau
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Cover by Alex Ross
My All-Inspiring Opinion
Certain patterns are beginning to emerge within Smith’s Green Hornet storyline that are quite familiar and unoriginal. How many superheroes have adopted the superhero persona due to violently loosing their father? The superhero is nothing more than a victim of some terrible circumstance that spurns this need to right the wrongs and defend the defenseless, but they all seem to have the same origin story. Having the original Kato in the mix doesn’t help the obvious and predictable nature of this book knowing, once you see him sitting at the bar, that he will be taking it upon himself to train the Green Hornet’s son and introducing him to his father’s secret legacy. I understand Smith’s Silver Age intention behind the story, but even a predictable story needs to have something that shocks and alarms.
Most notably, Dynamite has been building up the “surprising death” that would happen in issue #3. The possibilities were laid out there for us to pick and choose from. Either Kato, his daughter, Green Hornet senior or junior would find themselves beaten, broken, and in a coffin under the ground. We knew it wouldn’t be Britt’s son or Miss Kato since the whole story is based around them and their beginnings, which only leaves the judo master and the Original Green Hornet. Based on the typical comic trends, a father would have to die to help push the son forward into avenging his death, only to be trained or guided by a wise, experienced individual who has a connection with both men. The event might have been much more dramatic and surprising if Dynamite hadn’t of given everything away a few weeks prior to this issue actual publication date, but Dynamite ruined the surprise with their enormous build-up and marketing of this drastic event.
Apart from the predictable nature of the book, the story in and of itself is entertaining and fun to read. Kato’s real-time training session was humorously tense and foreshadowed what Britt Reid junior’s future will be like. In addition, Smith does create an interesting mystery behind the young Japanese woman we all know to be the daughter of Kato. But what we don’t know is why she was at the Reid fundraiser to begin with and how she knew of the oncoming threat.
Artistically this issue couldn’t have made me happier. Despite the overabundance of speed lines, the 3-demensinal approach that Jonathon Lau is taking on this title is beautiful and poetic. He creates such strong and dominate body structures that don’t go too far, nor are they lacking in anything anatomically. And who can argue with that cover? When Alex Ross dies, it is certainly going to hit the comic book industry harder than anything in history.
My Profoundly Climactic Conclusion
Issue #3 is fun and I think anyone following the series will enjoy it. However, don’t expect anything mind blowing or “new.” This was purely the “action sequence” chapter of Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet Movie script.
Ratings
Writing: 8
Themes: 4
Art: 10
Overall: 7.33
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