Written by: Rob Williams
Art by: Walter Simonson, Laura Martin and Clem Robbins
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 22, 2017
While Kamandi Challenge has been pretty hit or miss, I still think I am enjoying it overall. I say "think" because I sometimes struggle with writing the reviews only to laugh it up about it with Reggie on the podcast. I think it's a matter of my mood going in and then obviously, my mood going out. I want this book to be crazy fun...not a philosophical statement (I'm looking at you Tom King!) and for the most part, we have gotten a bit more of that. So, does this penultimate issue give us fun and set us up for the big finale? Let's find out...
The issue opens with something that has been missing a bit from this series...a brief recap of what got us to this point. Now, "this point" is Kamandi holding his dying mother as he's attacked by robot monsters, but Rob Williams gets us up to speed and away we go! In a series full of twists and turns, it's no surprise that his mother is actually a robot, the Dark Tower is actually a spaceship and...well, seriously, things get bat shit crazy from here on out. And I Love It!
Kamandi is joined in his fight by Tayvos (the leopard taking over command from Dead Woman who is...well, dead) and the Jet Pack Shark Attack Crew! Yea, Rob Williams actually rectifies a problem I had last issue when Greg Pak introduced, yet underused, such awesome and over-the-top characters.
After Kamandi gets a much needed gift from the Jet Pack Shark Attack Crew (I love writing and saying that!), he makes it to the rocket's Control Room, realizes he's in space and then meets the Big Bad of the series...The Misfit! I don't know what made me laugh more, the look of the Misfit or that Kamandi mistook him for his father!
The issue continues with The Misfit revealing his plan to Kamandi while Kamandi makes sure that help is on the way. The help is in the form of Silverbeck and the Gorilla UFO Squadron which is so awesome! Seriously, a bunch of UFO piloting gorillas who yell, "By the Infinite Banana"? Sign me up!
We continue on with The Misfit repeating his evil plan and Kamandi and the Gorilla UFO Squadron fighting off the evil robots while trying to come up with a plan to save the day. It all leads to a suicide mission and a cliffhanger that seems to be impossible to pull out of. Now this is what I've been waiting almost a year for!
This is easily my favorite issue of Kamandi Challenge. Why? Because Rob Williams gives the reader everything that this experiment promised...A cool way out of the last cliffhanger, crazy Kirby fun and a crazy cliffhanger that challenges the next creative team. Done, done and done! Plus, it all felt like an honest to goodness tribute to Jack Kirby from the dialogue and situations to the great art by Walter Simonson. I wish I could tell everyone to read this, but I'm afraid new readers would be totally lost. Screw it! If you just want a goofy good time and love having fun, pick this up!
Bits and Pieces:
Rob Williams gives fans a penultimate issue that not only has me excited for the finale, but is my favorite issue of the series. Him and Walter Simonson give us an issue that had everything that was promised when this series began and maybe even more. This issue actually made me smile and that's not something I do often.
9.5/10
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