"Sticky Tricky"

Bedlam #9
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Ryan Browne
Cover: Frazer Irving
October 2013
Image Comics


When was the last time anyone remembers reading Bedlam? This comic has been subjected to a bizarre release schedule but it couldn't be more fitting to this deranged ongoing series. It's likely due to the switch in artists but it could be a whole slew of things. At any rate, at least it's a new issue of Bedlam.

Nothing ever goes well for this town. After the end of the first arc (which alluded to something even more horrible being plotted from the shadows of the city's underworld to appear in a future arc) a new set of killings immediately emerged for the police to investigate, and of course, Fillmore Press is somehow still aiding them in this search for the truth.

The story structure is the same as always (opening scene is a flashback to the days of Madder Red's reign, followed by a double page background spread with the title of the story, then the return to the present) and I can't help but feel the reader deserves an entire issue dedicated to fleshing out (no pun) Madder Red's history; it is always the most enjoyable part of reading Bedlam. The investigation moves along in a relatively slow-paced fashion so as to set up other plot points in the story. Some intriguing information is revealed about a certain character whom we don't know very much about. Plus, we learn that something concerning his/her fate is at stake by the end of the issue. Cryptic? Yes I know... wouldn't want to spoil the issue entirely.

Isn't he a sweetheart?

Ryan Browne's artwork is similar enough to Riley Rossmo's (the original artist of Bedlam) but it lacks the same gruff and grit that this series has become known for. Browne certainly fills Rossmo's shoes well, but this issue feels too clean at times and then becomes statically scratchy at others; it's inconsistent. Perhaps that is the point, but I'm not sure. I have yet to read his creator-owned God Hates Astronauts so I do not know what his own style looks like; I've only seen how he imitates Rossmo. To his benefit, Browne has great storytelling chops: he excels at framing/placement of characters within the panel, he draws facial expressions well, and also nails the body language of the characters. After the last three issues with the new artist, I am overall content with Browne being onboard; Browne's art and Spencer's words align very nicely.

This issue lacks Madder Red. He's certainly in the book (I'm not including the presence of Fillmore Press here by the way), but not to the degree that makes this series so morbidly fantastic. It can be forgiven of Spencer since he is trying to develop the story and the other players within it. However, this issue is a prime example that Madder Red is what drives this book. Bring on the Red folks, and we'll be back in a perfect bedlam in no time.