Bonded

    (Cocked and Loaded, 2003)
™ and © Cocked and Loaded

No one can do Frank Miller like Frank Miller. Once he popularized the high-contrast black-and-white look in his Sin City comics, there have been many who have since imitated it. But most who have aped Miller’s past pioneering efforts have succeeded mostly at copying the look but not the substance. Bonded has the look, and it even has its moments but, for all its hard-boiled flavor, it’s still just another egg.

Artists William Binderup and Raymond Sohn appear to be decent artists and demonstrate some degree of unusual visuals and panel layouts. But all too often they seem to use the shadows as a crutch for avoiding detail where it’s sorely needed. Like a shroud, the murkiness blankets many of the scenes to the point at which characters look like little more than shadow puppets on a bare wall.

But obscured by all the black ink is an OK story about a detective investigating a series of murders that appear to be the work of a serial killer. When Detective Demars meets the sister of one of the victims, he discovers that she shares a strange mental link with the killer. Interesting stuff, but Demars’ character himself is nothing more than the stereotypical smoking, drinking, recently divorced police investigator.

Overall, this isn’t bad, but there are better imitators out there. Of course, the original’s out there, too.

— Jim Johnson
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