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Review: Dancer #5

By | September 28th, 2012
Posted in Reviews | 2 Comments

“Dancer” is one of those miniseries that almost seems too good to be true. Well-paced, smart, full of action, romantic in sort of a subtle and sad way, it plays out like a spy movie from the 1960s but without a vestige of cheese. Now that it’s reached its last issue, we’ve got one beautiful story to look back on, and while this last chapter may not deliver as much revealing back story as it could, it neatly underscores all the factors that have made this series so great.

Written by Nathan Edmondson
Illustrated by Nic Klein

What must Alan give up to defeat the Assassin? The show comes to a close in the last issue of the miniseries with the sudden finality of a sniper round.

It would likely be an understatement to say that retired assassin Alan Fisher has gone through a lot these past few issues. In his attempt to rescue his companion, Quinn, from a mysterious nemesis, he’s come near death more than once, and this issue sees him pushing forward with a strength of will that proves… well, thematically important.

The opening scene here is likely the most dramatic in the series, with Quinn — who, for the most part, has had a passive role — managing to use the talents that come along with being a ballerina to try and get out of a dire sitation. Actually, in a series that puts so much stress on the affinity between dancers and assassins, with exchanges between the villain and Quinn stopping short of “We’re not so different, you and I” but stepping pretty close to that line, it’s surprising that she hadn’t done so already. Still, it’s an excellent example of the taut, understated but compelling style of action that has been distinguishing “Dancer” as a series since issue one.

Another neat thing about this issue, story wise, is the complete lack of “big reveal”. Fans of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo will know what I’m talking about: when the most important plot details are revealed early (back in issue two), the story becomes less about skillfully dispensing information as it is about exploring suspenseful situations which play off the tensions between characters. That said, the last few pages give a touch more insight into the mechanics of the sci-fi concept underlying the central conflict, and while nothing here pretends toward a whole explanation, some hints dropped here and there referencing the idea of free will leave the reader with ample food for thought. I think we’ve all read miniseries that try to do too much with the pages they’re allotted, and this quiet ellipsis fits better than any compressed explication ever could.

On a similar note, a very splashy splash page towards the end of this issue constitutes the first real example of gore in a series that could easily have gotten away with plenty of guts from the beginning. In this case, the very worst of it has been saved for the most important violence of all, and Klein gets the moment across vividly and memorably. It’s another example of vaguely outmoded restraint in a series that raids the past for materials but comes through its own animal, and is all the more impressive for it.

Klein’s art — all sketchy lines, inky shadows, and elegant colours (there are some lovely blues and reds here) — is particularly striking in the way it economically gets across a sleek, mod feel. The character designs, likewise, are obviously pulp-influenced but don’t feel flat or fannish. Klein’s knack for mannerism and posture (more than facial expression) keeps these characters believable and sympathetic no matter how stylized. And while it would likely give too much away if I said why it’s so impressive, the details that characterize Alan and his nemesis in this issue are particularly well-chosen, establishing a nice sense of tension and unease.

Klein also makes interesting use of very simple page layouts. There are a lot of pages here where the panels are all evenly-sized squares, but far from decreasing the drama of what is depicted these layouts establish a clean, eerie feel, almost as if we were regarding the action with the enforced calm of a hired killer.

Edmonson and Klein have definitely sweated the details on this issue, and the result is very fine concluding chapter to what is looking to be a very rereadable series. Speaking of which, the trade will be coming out next month, so for those of you who missed this one — and who like their action stylish and ever-so-slightly retro — there won’t be too long to wait.

Final Verdict: 8.8 — Buy


Michelle White

Michelle White is a writer, zinester, and aspiring Montrealer.

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