Timala Elliott
Timala Elliott
The Good Asian #4
Image Comics
Written by Pornsak Pichetshote
Art by Alexandre Tefenkgi
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Letters by Jeff Powell
The Rundown: Edison Hark partners with Frankie Carroway as the investigation into Ivy Chen’s disappearance continues.
An intimate encounter leads Edison into a deadly confrontation. Later, Frankie assists Edison in questioning the citizens of Chinatown regarding Ivy Chen’s disappearance. Afterwards, Edison and Frankie have a conversation that yields surprising information. Next, the duo go to The Jade Castle. Once there, a clash with a dangerous foe causes an event that that will have devastating consequences.
The Story: In this chapter, Pornsak Pichetshote ramps the action and intensity of this detective thriller up off the charts. This masterfully crafted narrative delivers a deep insight into the psyche of Edison Hark and plays with the dynamics of familial relationships. I find the dichotomy between Edison and Frankie intriguing. Each “brother” longs for a familiarity with the other’s culture. And this issue highlights how proximity does not equal acceptance. The conversation between Edison and Frankie prior to their arrival at The Jade Castle was both moving and filled with content. It’s also one of the best comic scenes I’ve read in a long time. I’m excited to see how Edison deals with the repercussions of his latest skirmish, and what consequences will both he and Chinatown face.
Also, I highly recommend reading the ending notes of this issue. In them, Pichetshote takes the time to share important references alluded to in the series. He also draws attention to the history of Chinatown during the period of time encompassing the Chinese Exclusion Act.
The Art: A combination of minimalist drawings and a muted color palette set the stage for this tale. The noir theme continues. And is highlighted by an impressive set of action oriented panels that are emotionally jarring. As a warning, this issue is adult oriented and contains scenes that are graphic in nature. Overall, I found the illustration to be visually stimulating and tonally engaging.
The Good Asian #4
