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Sledgehammer ’44 #1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writers: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Artist: Jason Latour (cover by Mignola & Stewart)
Colors: Dave Stewart
Alright, show of hands, who loves a good WWII story? Exactly! Everyone does! From the minds of Mike Mignola and John Arcudi (and inspired in part by John Severin) comes a tale about a group of soldiers fighting Nazis in 1944 France. The team is usually on its own, but this night in particular, they’re the back up for something big. Over the top of the city, somewhere amongst the clouds, is an airplane that’s about to drop its cargo. The cargo is a giant suit, with a man presumably in it, that has a specific mission. To take out a new Nazi weapon that towers over even him!
With the names attached to this book, it should be a given that it will be good. Well, it didn’t disappoint, not even close. Not only was the story good (the parts above), but there were two cliffhangers that are worth the price of admission alone. No spoilers here, but one involves the Sledgehammer, and another is a couple of soldiers that meet up with the group that seem a little strange. The action sequences were great in this book! Especially the part where the Sledgehammer took on the Nazi war machine.
If you’ve seen the pages of Winter Soldier lately, you know all about artist Jason Latour. He actually was the artist on a really freaky BPRD story last year called “The Pickens County Horror.” Definitely check that one out, too. The best character other than Sledgehammer had to be the soldier named “Redding.” He was exactly what you’d expect someone to look like that was drafted and sent overseas to fight on a moment’s notice.
The cliffhangers are definitely going to have to payoff next issue, because it’s only a two issue mini. After reading this issue, though, you’ll be wishing it was a lot more than that. Hopefully the next issue will leave the door open for more in the future. Check out these awesome preview pages below! Rating 4/5





Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net