Brilliantly executed & an emotional punch in the gut.
If you haven't been reading Greg Pak's "Red Skull : Incarnate" you've been missing out on one of the best things Marvel has going. Cut from the same cloth as "Magneto: Testament", this series chronicles the life of a young boy named Johann who eventual becomes The Red Skull. This issue moves further into Johann's painful and destructive rise to power and concludes with a particularly significant but disturbing final page. Pak is writing a story that not only serves as entertainment but as a history lesson of sorts. As with the previous issues, so much research has gone into this project and he effectively draws you in with the history and detail found on each page. This issue doesn't miss a beat and it continues to be a brilliantly crafted but sobering punch in the gut.
Flawlessly complimenting Pak's incredible story is Mirko Colak's wonderful art. His style crisply captures the period and the carefully drawn details found in everything from the character's clothing to the environments make this such a satisfying experience. He uses a rather simple layout with perfectly placed splash pages. Matthew Wilson's colors add to the historic feel of the story and David Aja gives us another incredible propoganda poster styled cover. This is another great looking issue.
Pak and Colak are creating something really special. This feels like something important and something that will stick with me for a long time. It's heart-wrenching to read especially since you know the outcome. It's written and drawn with such care and it immerses you into this very troubled time in world history. Again, if you're not reading this you're really missing out. This series is amazing.
