WYRD #1-4 (Dark Horse Comics, 2019) Curt Pires, story. Antonio Fuso, art. Stefano Simeone, colors. Micah Myers, letters.
The initial Dark Horse promotional info described WYRD as “James Bond meets the X-Files”. That got my attention, and I pre-ordered the mini-series. Who doesn’t enjoy those two franchises? Author Curt Pires went a little further in his advance publicity, calling it “James Bond meets Hellblazer (back when it was good).”
After that, I was really interested. I love weird detective stories, a la John Constantine/Hellblazer, B.P.R.D, and others. In fact the last really good story I read in this genre was actually called Weird Detective - a nice bit of noir, pop culture, and Lovecraftian mythos thrown into a blender by writer Fred Van Lente. (Coincidentally, Dark Horse published Weird Detective.)
The series played out as single issue episodes, with the book-ending Issues #1 and #4 being the best of the bunch. So, if you find a stray issue or two in a bargain bin, don’t hesitate to pick it up. The series is definitely worthwhile.
However, instead of building on the intriguing premise of Issue #1, the remaining issues seemed to repeat themselves, just with different settings and different antagonists. Only in Issue #4 (a great spin on the most famous of superheroes) do things lead up to a climax of sorts, although it leaves the door open for so much more. I”d be up for more. I thing the long delays between release dates of some of the later issues did not help the book gain momentum.
The main character’s last name is Wyrd. Wouldn’t you pronounce that as “weird”? Of course, it could be a funny way to indicate “word” or “werd”. He’s very intelligent but not that wordy, so I don’t think that’s it. And werd is just a funny pronouciation, but doesn’t exist in my pocket English dictionary.
There’s a definite nourish, cinematic feel to this book which the shading and choice of colors helps to enhance. It’s fun to look at, so I”m going to highlight that before addressing the writing.
Artist Antonio Fuso’s work reminds me of Jock’s style in all the right ways. His cityscapes, street scenes and vehicles have a realistic, rotoscoped look to them. Where he really excels is in the action sequences. Fuso is able to cram a lot of movement into a single page by use of small horizontal panels and silhouettes. His action scenes recall the style of Wes Craig on Deadly Class. They are fun to view.
The first four pages of Issue #1 open up with text free panels detailing a choreographed dive from an overpass into present-day Los Angeles traffic. It’s our first introduction to Pitor Wyrd (Peter, I guess - -allegedly American, but the spelling of his name sure has an Eastern European flavor), who’s apparently suicidal but also unbreakable.
In clever fashion, scattered within the accident sequence are very small inset panels that illustrate the specific bones being broken. Yet, Wyrd stands up and walks away from injury. The story in the introductory issues implies that Wyrd is immortal, but that’s not confirmed until later issues. I initially assumed his statement that “I don’t break” was just an arrogant boast, because it seemed to fit his character.
Wyrd is a bit of a smug smart ass, albeit in a semi-charming sort of way. His interactions with the other characters throughout the stories go a long way towards understanding his nature and attitudes. The dialogue is snappy and revealing. We learn even more about Wyrd through his activities. He likes his cigarettes and booze, and neither are very far from his person.
Wyrd is for hire. For the modest fee of a suitcase full of money, he takes on some edgy government assignments. There’s a bio weapon in Crimea that needs to be disabled. Readers don’t learn much about this until the actual battle between Wyrd and a hulking monstrosity, the victim of efforts to duplicate the super-soldier serum that birthed Captain you-know-who. I love the way that Pires and Fuso tell the backstory of the threat through small flashback panels inserted within the battle pages. The villain says about as much as a rampaging green monstrosity would, but more succinct is his calling Wyrd “a ghost in a man suit.”
The issue ends with a short, but heartwarming conversation in 1942 between a couple considering whether to bring an unborn child into the world. They decide that would be “alright", and we can only assume they are referring to Pitor Wyrd, who looks pretty young and spry for someone who should be around 77-years-old. Sadly, they don’t return and we don’t learn much more about them in the remaining issues.
I definitely want to read and learn more. Wyrd was planned as an initial four-issue mini-series. Whether it comes back for a second helping remains to be seen. I’m waiting.
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