Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote / Artist: Alexandre Tefenkgi / Image
The epic confrontation between Eddie Hark and his counterpart Silas Woodward a.k.a. ex-Tong killer Hui Long ended with a bang. And just in case you don’t remember, I mean that literally. There was a whole explosion. An entire building engulfed in flames with Hark and Woodward inside. And the recap at the front of the issue states pretty clearly that Detective Edison Hark died looking for Ivy Chen. But of course, the story is not quite over and Pichetshote and Tefenkgi have plenty of poignant noir storytelling to regale with us.
The Good Asian #8 is told from the perspective of Lucy Fan, the Chinatown telephone operator, who aided Hark in previous ventures and is now recounting the aftermath of Hark’s death and his supposed murder of Frankie Carroway. And the start of the issue opens with an striking similar story to what we see in the modern day: rampant, unmitigated Asian hate. It stings that the themes and messaging of a piece of historic fiction set in 1936 mirror so closely to what is happening now, but it’s also a true testament to how Pichetshote has made this a timeless piece of fiction throughout this run.
In addition, The Good Asian #8 has an entirely different visual palette than its predecessors. It’s a little brighter of a book, most likely due to the change in point of view, but that type of visual shift is welcome and keys us into various details. Lucy still has her own questions about everything that has happened, and this shift in perspective provides even more insight into the world and the characters. It’s fantastic. Tefengki creates some truly haunting images and incorporates a lot of the visual cues that have been recurring in The Good Asian while still imparting a different lasting impression that remains connected to the great narrative.
There are still two more issues in what has become and remains my favorite comic. This is the comic book medium at its finest, and I cannot wait to see what Pichetshote and Tefengki have in store for the thrilling conclusion to this brilliant work of historical noir fiction. If The Good Asian #8 is any indication, it’s going to go to some enthralling places.
10 “Aftermaths” out of 10
Enjoying The Good Asian? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
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