Comic Book Review: Secret Six #27

Literary & Artistic Credits

Writer: Gail Simone

Penciller: J. Calafiore

Colorist: Jason Wright

Letterer: Travis Lanham

Cover Art: Daniel Luvisi

Editor: Sean Ryan

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

Bane on a T-Rex…what more could you ask for?  I’ll tell you what, half naked men and women slicing each other up, solidifying the fact that this issue is a true testament that war and sex go hand in hand. (Thank you Doctor Strangelove.) The two teams, both humorously having six members, go tooth and nail in a vicious battle that takes war violence to a new level.  And who’s caught in the middle? The people of the Skartaris tribe, and this very well may be the end of their culture.

I think Simone and Calafiore got together one day and agreed to make this issue the complete and utter visualization of the American dream.  Vigilante men and women turning savage, wearing almost nothing and duking it out to an almost arousing degree.  But this has more to do with the art rather than the dialog, even though there are obvious sexual tensions going on between characters.  J. Calafiore brings in all the stops and more with sexy and savage depiction of jungle war.  Jimmy Palmiotti, watch out, Gail Simone’s sex appeal in this story might rival even yours!

J. Calafiore has truly been raising the stakes on his artistic vision through the Secret Six, but I don’t think I’ve ever been as impressed with his work here in issue #27 than in any other past comics he’s worked on.  The muscular structures of each character and the dynamic and overall cinematography is a gorgeous and a breathtaking sight to behold, in addition to that tremendously beautiful cover of Bane triumphantly riding on the back of a dinosaur by Daniel Luvisi. 

And just a side note, did anyone else catch the cleverly placed dissipating feline as it changes into the temptasciously (yes, I just made up a word, deal with it.  My blog, my rules!) sexual Shakira?  Maybe I’m just perverted, but this is definitely a BIG co-inky-dink for me!  To big to pass up mentioning at least.

But have no fear, if you’re someone who doesn’t mind sex, but wants more substance, Simone is definitely no stranger in making the two work well together.  Her writing in this issue brings out the best of action stories that involve a lot of blood, slicing, dicing, and champing at the bits.  King Shark can attest to that!  But the two plots occurring throughout these pages (one being the main plot and the other a minor, yet mysterious plot which is building a lot momentum) will have you clenching the book with the utmost anticipation.  This whole war between the two teams has turned into some desperate attempt by Shakira to get her husband back into her life, and Agent Waller and Armstrong keep going back and forth in who has the upper hand.  Tension keeps going back and forth all sides, and I keep begging for more!

But this story isn’t without its light-hearted, yet twisted sense of humor.  Like always, Ragdoll brings in his brand of humor and still manages to be as demented as the next super villain.  (Sorry Joker, you’ve got some competition!)  But King Shark is certainly proving that Ragdoll isn’t the only funny man on campus.  And tied together with Deadshot’s dry one-liners, you’ll most assuredly have moments of relief from all the devastation and blood-shed to take a moment to relax, breath, and remember that the Secret Six is nothing but pure, thought provoking fun!

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

This type of storyline is typically not my cup o’ tea.  There’s a certain level of rushing that can occur with a story moving this fast.  But Gail Simone takes it and handles it with delicate care.  I never once felt overwhelmed or blasted away with how much is going on in the story. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

Writing: 10

Art: 10

Themes: 10

+ 2 incentive points