Oni Press Color Special

    (Oni, 2002)

With its typed lettering and caption boxes on virtually every panel, the title character’s story “Hands of the Sea” looks and feels much like an E.C. comic book. An amazing amount of plot and backstory is squeezed into 12 pages, reminiscent of the time when a comic book might contain three or four complete stories per issue, rather than an installment of a single story taking several months to a year to complete. Similarly, the sappy deus ex machina conclusion would not work — in fact, it would be almost laughable, if not for the retro feel of the piece.

There is a backup tale, “Minister Sinister,” which feels more contemporary but is not as strong. Despite the clever title, which is a better rhyme and conjures a more offbeat image than Marvel’s “Mister Sinister,” it is poorly paced. With 75% of the story lacking dialogue, the action needs to be more self-evident. The art is also a letdown after the stronger lead story. Uncredited, readers can’t tell whose work it is. It’s hard to believe that this might have come from the same hands as the Squid Girl story.

— Jack Abramowitz
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  • 2001
    #2001
    Jun 2001
    Cover: $5.95
    W: Brian Michael Bendis, Tom Fowler, Arthur Dela Cruz, Chynna Clugston Flores, J. Torres, Jen Van Meter, Phil Hester, Greg Rucka, Gail Simone  ·  A: Michael Avon Oeming, Tom Fowler, Arthur Dela Cruz, Chynna Clugston Flores, J. Bone, Christine Norrie, Mike Huddleston, Stan Sakai, Lea Hernandez
    5 copies from $1.50
  • 2002
    #2002
    Wraparound cover by Mike Allred
    Jun 2002
    Cover: $5.95
    W: Warren Ellis, Gail Simone, Neal Shaffer, Sabina Ex Machina, Christine Norrie, Ted Naifeh, Phil Hester, Gary Phillips, Chris Gossett, Bradley James Kayl, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Kelley Seda  ·  A: Phil Hester, Ande Parks, J. Bone, Daniel Krall, Steve Rolston, Christine Norrie, Matt Ryan, Ted Naifeh, Mike Huddleston, Brett Weldele, Aaron Horvath, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Kelley Seda
    3 copies from $0.99