Art by: Jorge Lucas
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 29, 2014
Tastes Great, Less Filling
I love Talon and Calvin Rose. Yes, it lost it's way a bit and has been canceled, but at least James Tynion tied things up a bit with the last issue. It even opened the door for some crazy new adventures. Spoiler alert, this ain't one of them. Nope, before we get the end of Calvin Rose (part deux), we get a one-shot written by Marguerite Bennett and illustrated by Jorge Lucas. Is it good? Yes. Is it necessary? Well...
Explain It:
Talon #15 is the story of Jonas. Jonas lived in Georgia when the Spanish Flu came to town, killed most of his family and drove his Mother cuckoo. When I say cuckoo, I mean kill every chicken with an axe kind of cuckoo. Well. Jonas ran away and was picked up by Haley's Circus. Unlike some of Haley's most famous performers, Jonas really didn't have any talent save for one. He was a bit crazy. When I say crazy, I mean riding lions as they jump through flaming hoops kind of crazy. I guess it just ran in the family.
Enter the Court of the Owls. Those lovable guys saw potential in Jonas and scooped him up. We get to see Jonas' dedication (ie: craziness) and his love of facial markings (ie: bat shit craziness) and finally his battle with the current Talon.
Marguerite Bennett does a really good job here. She makes the reader care for this poor young boy, but at the same time let's us know the monster he will become and make no bones about it, he is a monster. He is on the level of the Butcher and we know how bad he was. However, everything in this issue had a been there done that feel. We have seem the Court's maze and what it's all about in Batman. We know how it all works and what's at stake. Even though Jonas' battle with the current Talon makes sense and is cool for the long time readers, it is nothing surprising. That is the problem with this book, at the end of the day it is just filler. Well done filler, but filler nonetheless. Don't get me wrong though, Marguerite Bennett takes her opportunity and does the best she can with it.
Jorge Lucas is the artist I wish had jumped on the book when Guillem March left the book oh so long ago. He did the art in the Court of the Owls Villain Month issue and I loved it and this issue was just as good. He gets the Gothic look this book thrives on right and his Talon looks good with or without a mask on. That seems like a weird statement, but has been an issue for me with this book.
Bits and Pieces:
Talon #15 is a bit of a conundrum. It is a really good issue for Talon fans, but it gives them nothing new. It would have been a good primer issue to get new fans up to speed, but unfortunately it's too little too late. If you want someone to jump into the series, this is good starting point.
8.0/10
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