The Good Asian #10

Image Comics

Written by Pornsak Pichetshote

Art by Alexandre Tefenkgi

Colors by Lee Loughridge

Letters by Jeff Powell

The Rundown: All mysteries are uncovered as Edison confronts a killer.

In the recent past, Edison searches for and finally meets with the elusive Edith. Meanwhile, in the present, Victoria is surprised by an intruder only to discover it is Edison. Edison then breaks down the relationship between Ivy Chen and the major players of the series. He then explains Woodward’s extraneous actions and the means of Ivy’s death. Soon, Edison discovers a heartbreaking secret. But before an explanation is given, Mason Carroway appears. He then explains the nature of an investigation that Ivy was conducting. Edison then confronts him about his mother’s death.

Afterwards, Mason makes a deal with Edison that will directly affect Chinatown in a positive way. Later, Edison meets with Lucy Fan and the two have an encounter with Terrence Chang. During the interaction, Edison has a moment of enlightenment and self-awareness. And finally, he has a confrontation that shows his personal growth.

The Story: The final chapter of this dynamic story is all about connecting the dots. And like the fourth act of a great crime thriller, it absolutely delivers. I was mesmerized by the breakdown of the history of the Carroway family and their brazen behavior, as well as the intrigue surrounding them. Picheshote’s well-crafted imaginings provide a big payoff that will have you ready for an immediate series re-read.

“Because sometimes survival’s just hiding—so you can’t be used against you.” Normally I don’t quote from the text in my reviews, but this one line sums up the entirety of this tale. And it hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks because it also explains much of the experience of people of color and other marginalized groups in the U.S. It also symbolizes Edison’s journey of self-discovery. It is also not lost on me that the catalyst for his enlightenment was the murder of Ivy Chen, a woman of color whose life had been ruthlessly taken from her by those who would seek to oppress her in the name of their own freedom.

For me, this has been a wild and thrilling rollercoaster of a detective story. I can’t thank or praise Picheshote enough for having the courage to create this masterpiece. I have learned a lot about an era that U.S. History doesn’t often acknowledge as well as experienced the delight of reading a legitimate noir detective story.

I certainly hope that Edison Hark will return as teased. I can’t wait to read and review more works from this amazing author and members of the creative team in the future.

The Art: This issue follows the series precedent of using traditional artwork in a noir styling. The varying colorwork changes with location and perspective and creates a jarring emotional connection to the characters and events that are presented. Overall, I feel that the illustration does an excellent job of providing a fully transportive experience.

The Good Asian #10

10

10.0/10

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