Review - BARB WIRE #2 - Stop Destroying My Bar!
Written by: Chris Warner - Pencils by: Patrick Olliffe
Inks by: Tom Nguyen - Colors by: Gabe Eltaeb
In Barb Wire's first issue there was a pervading sense of empathy. In issue two, it seems Dark Horse now has its version of old school, down on his luck Peter Parker. It isn’t lack of skills, as she is fully capable, and she does her job well. Regardless of how skilled she is, a person can only take on so much. Being stuck in between two warring gangs with an oh so fragile truce isn’t helping things, especially when said gangs use her bar as a place to get into scuffles, often damaging it in the process. She’s in debt up to her ears and isn’t even sure she can keep her bar, and now on top of that, she has some sort of Norse warrior in a perpetual state of drunkenness out there causing all sorts of problems every time she stops to breathe.
It's all a bit much if you ask me. Bartender! Pour me a scotch.
Who am I kidding, pour me an amaretto sour. I just love those things.
In any case, the thing I find most fascinating with this book is how grounded writer Chris Warner keeps the main character. Barb is just trying to make a living and stay alive, two things that pretty much anyone can understand and relate to. Honestly, it's what keeps me coming back. Also of note is how Charlie (Barb’s brother) is being worked into Barb’s bounty work more. He’s got a fun personality, and his lightheartedness is needed amongst all the combat and the general dourness of Steel Harbour. On the art front, Patrick Olliffe is able to fit so much detail into even the smallest panel, and one in particular describes Barb’s world just so perfectly. On page 19, Mace makes a not so subtle threat, taking out part of Barb’s bar as a clear message. The thing is, the panel is one of several on the page, so it isn’t huge, and yet Olliffe fits so much debris, other character reactions, random spouts of water, etc., in said panel, that it just makes everything immediately after, Barb’s reaction specifically, hit so well.
I'm still enjoying the book, so catch you back here for Barb Wire Issue #3 soon.
