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REVIEW: Surgeon #7
4.48/5.0 Stars
Rating if the Book Were a Movie: PG-13
Creative Team:
Writer: John Pence
Artist: Zoran Jovicic
Colors: Sercan Sarikaya
Letters: John Pence
Publisher: Laguna Studios
Ratings:
Story: 4.6 Stars
Artwork: 4.5 Stars
Dialogue: 4.5 Stars
Mechanics: 4.6 Stars
Editing: 4.2 Stars
About the Book:
When we last saw her in the sixth installment of “The Surgeon” Dr. Hanover was recovering from a catastrophic injury. The knife blade of a member of First Nations United had left Jenny barely able to keep upright with help from a prosthesis. Dr. Hanover was forced to choose. Does she live in the wilds on a gimpy leg? Does she recover at Turtle Island with a population that likes her horse better than her? Dr. Hanover decides staying at Turtle Island is best.
It is until representatives of First Nations United arrive at their gates. They have no quarrel with Dr. Hanover. Their leader, Chuck, has passed away. The tribesmen are delivering gifts and carrying out Chuck’s last wishes. They also tell the people that under the new leadership First Nations United will be reclaiming their peoples’ land. The citizens of Turtle Island have until the first of June to leave the region without any hostilities.
Reader’s Notes:
Jen Hanover is easily one of my favorite characters in a creator owned title. She’s smart and she’s good in a fight. If she wasn’t she wouldn’t be a very good title character. What I like about her best is the humanity that Mr. Pence brings to her character. She is self destructive. She makes bad choices; but she tries to learn from them and be a better person for it. And that lasts right up to the moment when someone else does something she doesn’t agree with.
What makes “The Surgeon” one of my favorite titles is how Mr. Pence puts the problems of the nation front and center. In the very first issue he wrote about the one percent hiding behind their money and leaving the rest of the world to fend for themselves. He’s also touched on addiction.
In this issue he touches on how early settlers took the land from the Native Americans. He isn’t wrong. The way this is addressed in the story is much kinder and gentler than how many of our ancestors handled things. First Nations United made it clear that it wasn’t personal. In fact they said that the people of Turtle Island had been good neighbors. They gave them nine months to figure things out. They don’t want to resort to violence. They will if they have to though.
This was an excellent reminder that somewhere along the way this nation is going to have to pay reparations for the assorted atrocities committed during the early years in our history. The sooner it happens, the better.
I have enjoyed seeng the different renditions of Dr. Hanover the interior artists in this series have done. Jovicic’s rendition in this issue is one that truly catches the eye. She looks like she’s been through the wringer. All of the scars from her encounters are a perfect reflection of how difficult her journey has been. Sarikaya’s coloring makes her look even more determined…. And dangerous.
One of the things I have always appreciated about “The Surgeon” is how friendly it is to a newcomer. A new reader does not have to have read all of the previous issues in the series to understand the plot. It helps; but isn’t a requirement. Like any ongoing story there are references to previous events and character relationships that are easier to understand when the reader has the complete picture.
As a geek on a budget I highly recommend reading the seventh installment of “The Surgeon”. This is a book filled with great artwork, witty dialogue, and a character who isn’t afraid to dole out a serving of justice when it’s deserved. You can’t ask for more than that.
You can get your copy of “The Surgeon” #7 at:
Get your copy of The Surgeon here!
Thanks for reading!
Until next time, gang!
