Alfredo Castelli (Writer, Creator)
Giancarlo Alessandrini (Artist)
THE HYPE: The exciting conclusion to last month's cliffhanger ending... Will MARTIN MYSTERY make the connections between the Nazis, the sword Excalibur, the Martians, and Stonehenge? Tv's X-FILES has nothing on this conspiracy thriller that literally spans time and space... for roughly 200 pages of story and art!
THE STORY: Martin, Java, and Miss Helda travel Europe in an effort to destroy the all powerful weapon of myth and legend: Excalibur. But obstacles stand in their way... in the form of Martin Mystery's opposite number... Sergej Orloff! Can they elude him and destroy the weapon? Or will Martin claim the power as his own? Find out in an episode that tries to answer many questions with a single answer!
THE WRITING: Castelli tells a rather intriguing tale that showcases Martin Mystery as an almost prototypical Indiana Jones or Fox Mulder. His questions lead to deeper ones; his adventures lead to wilder ones. Castelli has said his work suffers from too many talking heads, but that is not the case in this issue - the action takes the characters - good and evil - all across Europe, and ultimately, into a sci-fi realm believed to be Avalon! This should please most any conspiracy fan...
THE ARTWORK: Alessandrini continues to run hot and cold. In moments of brilliance, his artwork looks like Jim Aparo inked by Joe Kubert. The problematic aspects of his artwork lie in the intense linework on his faces and figures - cross-hatching and linework that needs better definition. The desire for detail is there, but the execution lacks a subtlety in the weight of the lines - facial lines and wrinkles cut deeper and darker than eyebrows, even on the Neanderthal Java!
THE BOTTOM LINE: MARTIN MYSTERY, like all Bonelli books, is not about the artwork. These Italian wonders focus on storytelling, and when push comes to shove, Alessandrini pulls it together to tell a solid tale. Every panel may not be a single work of museum-quality art, but the overall effect (of the story) is quite positive. It feeds the mind and fuels the imagination. Castelli has an extraordinary adventurer on his hands, one which would certainly entertain those who are enjoying Alan Moore's new Grade: B+.
