Comic Break: Ferryman #2 (DC/Wildstorm)

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Ferryman
Issue: #2
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Artist: Jonathan Wayshak
32 pp. Wildstorm/DC. $3.50

Reviewed by Paul Stotts

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“…You’ve just been called up to the majors”— Ferryman #2

The first issue of Wildstorm’s new series Ferryman was an intriguing introduction to Gideon Thorne, a supernatural bounty hunter. Thorne’s an interesting character, and the initial issue provided enough questions to make the current one worth the look. While many questions are still left hanging (and new ones develop) after the second issue, the introduction of new characters and storylines give a greater depth to the series. If there was one word to sum up Ferryman to this point it would be “promising.”

Writer Marc Andreyko delivers an enjoyable script for the issue. He gives us a peek into the “origin” of Gideon Thorne early on. Thorne’s background is filled in by his boss Webster, who regales Gideon with the tale of his Gideon’s own life. These expository passages come off as strange and unrealistic. Clearly, Andreyko wants to give the reader insight into Gideon’s past, but to have it delivered in this manner shows his hand too clearly. People do not give pages of narrative on another person’s past. Others may refer to one’s past, but never explain it to them. The theatrical way Webster recounts Gideon’s past further aggravates this problem; it’s posturing for the reader. Also, Gideon’s back-story strongly reminded me of the movie “Seven,” which made it feel like something I’ve seen before. Unfortunately, this means it held little suspense or interest to me.

The story starts to pick up in the second half of the issue when Andreyko introduces some new characters and plotlines. Natalia is another ferryman who works for Webster, and after taking down a terrorist baddie, she’s sent off to New Mexico for a meeting with a mysterious newcomer who has a strange thirst for lizards. Since all the mystery in the issue surrounds Natalia and her New Mexico business meeting, she’s easily the most intriguing character currently. To a lesser extent, the same could be said about another new plotline focusing on Dr. Elizabeth Michaelson, which raised a whole slew of new questions after only a few pages. In the end, these new storylines elevate the quality of the issue, taking what could have been a bland, average issue and making it slightly better. The biggest question at the moment is how events will pan out, and after the second issue the answer is still not clear.

On the positive side, I love Jonathan Wayshak’s art. It has a frenetic and gleefully disturbed quality to it; all his characters grin like crazed maniacs. If an award was handed out for “Best Maniacal Grins,” Wayshak would win in a landslide. His characters are all huge teeth and big, bulging eyes. It works beautifully in the context of the series, and is definitely the issue’s greatest strength.

The second issue of Ferryman does an adequate job treading water as Andreyko and Wayshak put pieces of the story in place. Hopefully, this will bear some fruit soon. However enough mystery still surrounds the series to warrant a look at the next issue.

Final Grade: 73 out of 100

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Comic Break: Ferryman #1 (DC/Wildstorm)