HERE COMES CALICO #8 – New Comic Review

HERE COMES CALICO #8, by Sigma Comics on Kickstarter, ends the miniseries with a Game Of Death-Style gauntlet to reach O.D.B. and take the gangster down for good.

Credits:

• Writer: H.H. German
• Artist: Renato Pinto
• Colorist: Daniel Grimaldi
• Letterer: Renato Pinto
• Cover Artist: Daniel Grimaldi (cover A)
• Publisher: Sigma Comics
• Release Date: January 2024 (estimated)
• Comic Rating: Mature
• Cover Price: $7.00
• Page Count: 48
• Format: Single issue

Covers:

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Analysis of Here Comes Calico #8:

Plot Analysis: 

HERE COMES CALICO #8 begins with a montage-style flashback that gives readers a window into Hector Gil’s life from the moment of his birth (literally) to his early days of vigilante crimefighting to a series of heartbreaking events that shaped his attitude towards humanity and life. When a brief stint in jail left his best friend and cat, Bumble, abandoned, Hector learned the value of every life, even the animal kind.

Now, we catch up with Hector as Calico as he fights his way up the high-rise building to get to O.B.D. and put him down for good. Along the way, he crosses paths with allies he’s helped in previous issues, such as Flaco and Gene, and Calico makes an ally or two with killers he previously fought.

The issue ends with a small mountain of bodies, a nightmare of paperwork for the police, and the hint that the secret order that funds and supplies Calico may have dissension in its ranks.

Character Development:

Calico learns to accept help and rely on a greater circle of allies in the aftermath of his fight. Gene, it turns out, is an excellent shot, the Jiggler (the diabetic psycho) can come in handy when pointed in the right direction, and Dogmomma has a new home base after her old digs were attacked.

In short, the character personalities are mostly the same, but nearly everyone gets a new status quo through money and mission.

Artwork and Presentation: 

Renato Pinto’s artwork is top-tier stuff in this issue. Pinto’s layouts, action, fighting choreography, and facial acting are as good as any comic from the Big 2. German lucked out acquiring Pinto for this project because this series is well above a typical indie comic.

Art Samples:

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Pacing and Structure: 

Without pacing, the pacing is fantastic. As a finale should be, the energy starts high and doesn’t let up until the epilogue. The structure, however, is where most readers will struggle.

A lot happens very quickly (almost too quickly) without smooth transitions or setup. New characters are introduced out of nowhere. Other characters reappear from their brief appearances earlier in the series without a clue as to where they came from or how they’re connected to the bigger picture.

Further, the series ends with big plot points that never get explained. For example, what are the glowing cubes in the duffle bag, and why is the bag worth $200 Million? All the gangs of NYC want a cube and are willing to pay through the nose or kill to get one, but we never find out what they are, what they do, or why they’re so valuable. If it was explained earlier in the series, it happened too quickly to be memorable.

Overall, a lot happens in this issue, but the reading experience is chaotic and disjointed.

Thematic Exploration: 

For Calico, his primary objective is to shut O.D.B. down as he holds sway over a number of illicit animal cruelty operations. The underlying point is the achieving humane treatment of animals, even if that means maiming or killing their abusers.

For some readers, that message may seem extreme. Having known several animal lovers in my time, folks will easily adopt a parental relationship that treats animals like children, so the need to act is palpable.

The Bigger Picture:

Series Continuity: 

HERE COMES CALICO #8 ends the miniseries as a standalone story. That said, the final pages strongly indicate Calico’s mission will continue with a wider circle of allies and possibly a new enemy growing behind the scenes.

Creator Insights: 

H.H. German is not just a comic creator but a passionate animal rights activist. The credits and cover information also indicate that a portion of the proceeds support the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Therefore, readers who enjoy comics and good causes get both with their purchase.

Final Thoughts:

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HERE COMES CALICO #8 ends the miniseries on an action-packed note. Readers get fresh insight into Calico’s upbringing and events that shaped his motivation to become a crime fighter, which goes a long way toward eliciting sympathy for the hero’s mission. Plus, the art in this issue is top-tier. However, small and large plot threads are left unaddressed, and the reading experience comes across as chaotic and disorganized.

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