I’ve always been drawn to characters who save the day even when they are outcasts from society. It’s one thing to do the right thing when you are liked and respected but to save others, even if for ultimately selfish reasons, when you are feared and rejected has always been compelling. “Gotham City Monsters” #6 takes this idea and makes it the core of their story, with a colorful team of monsters who, although they might have different motivations, become heroes in the process. While there are some flaws, with a team this monstrous it’s quite memorable.
Written by Steve OrlandoCover by Howard Porter & HI-FI
Illustrated by Amancay Nahuelpan
Colored by Trish Mulvihill
Lettered by Tom NapolitanoIt all ends here! Melmoth is looking to destroy the world before anyone else gets their evil hands on it, but he better watch out-the Monsters aren’t ready to see their planet die. It may not treat them the best, but it’s home! Frankenstein in particular has a big stake in stopping Melmoth. If he can defeat this diabolical mastermind once and for all, it means he will be free of the curse of their shared blood.
One of the greatest strengths of “Gotham City Monsters” #6 is the issue’s ability to find a good balance of tone. There are elements of classic monster movies, pulpy melodrama, and some great dark humor to keep the whole issue feeling light. (But hey, you want that in a comic book about monsters!) This is achieved, in a large part, by the team members. The team is an interesting combination of different characters and moods, and Steve Orlando does a good job of making them feel like a cohesive unit despite the disparate styles. Frankenstein sounds like a character pulled straight out of the Gothic literature where he was created. This pairs nicely with the Red Phantom, whose design and manner of speaking similarly feel out of time. Orca and Lady Clayface both provide some needed levity to the issue. But the real star is Killer Croc, a man who has seemingly betrayed his friends and his city for the greater good. Croc is the veteran of the team, talking about his time in the Suicide Squad and how one lesson he’s learned is that you can’t save everyone. It’s all a ruse, but it’s a powerful one. The team is well written and some of the best moments are when they work together. One particular moment is when Lady Clayface makes herself into gauntlets to help Orca. While this team is relatively new, their bond feels earned. The best thing, though, is that while the team helps to create a balance of tone, the villain does his fair share of lifting.
Melmoth is the kind of villain who delights in being evil. This brings a good deal of humor to “Gotham City Monsters” #6. Throughout the issue, he is mugging to the camera all while mocking Frankenstein’s Byronic brooding or Killer Croc’s inability to act. Amancay Nahuelpan clearly had a wonderful time drawing Melmoth. Melmoth always has a gleefully evil grin as he waxes poetic about creating acts so vile that it will tear apart every Gotham in the multiverse, the only way to save everyone else. (Though, I admittedly was unclear about what the threat to the Multiverse was.) The problem, though, is that while the characters are good, there were some problems with the details.
There are a lot of moving pieces In “Gotham City Monsters” #6, and it’s doing a lot of work to get to the finish line. There are double and triple crosses, multiverse shattering spells, zombies. It’s all quite a lot to take it. But the biggest problem is that when it gets to the finish it all seems a bit rushed. The characters seem to think that this third way is only a temporary fix, but once again that gravity of the situation was never quite spelled out in an understandable way (or at the very least in this issue.) It was also a shame that the team was split. While each character got their one moment to shine, it would have been nice to see them fight as one cohesive unit. Some characters, specifically Batwoman, had very little to do in the issue overall. While this was mainly a Frankenstein focused story, it would have been nice for a bit more time for the other team members. While there were some problems with the climax, though, the ending was a nice resolution. It was nice to see the characters in some smaller character moments. This is especially true with Killer Croc, acting as the desk clerk of Monstertown’s hotel.
The art was excellent. It helped reinforce the feeling of a classic monster movie with the majority of the action taking place in the Slaughter Swamp. Trish Mulvihill’s background colors are drab greenish greys, making the swamp feel endless and ominous. While there is the potential that the limited palette would make the backgrounds boring, they always add an eerie feel to the scenes. It also helps to heighten the other colors of the characters. Red Phantom and Melmoth’s reds really pop in the olive backgrounds. The swamp also lends itself to some excellent shadows, heightening Melmot’s sinister smiles. But once again, the art improved in the final pages. The art of Monstertown and the Magus Theater are really impressive. They are both full of personality and they are settings that I hope we will see more of. That’s what this all boils down to. “Gotham City Monsters” #6 is a mixed bag of a finale, but it ends with the suggestion that the monsters are not done, that they have more adventures ahead. With these characters, that is an exciting suggestion.
Final Verdict: 6.5 “Gotham City Monsters” #6 doesn’t quite stick the landing, but strong character work and good art make for a solid issue.
