Captain Kirk’s Pick of the Week: Sinestro #5

For the pick of the pulls this week, I’m offering only one title.

Why?

FanExpo Canada.

This week, Toronto plays host to thousands of comic and geek culture fans from around the country and the nearby US states. Hey, in the past, I know we’ve even had a selection of international fans.  But, as I’m busy helping a friend set up his booth and get set up to cover the Con over the next few days, sad to say, I don’t have enough time to read as many comics as I’d like! It’s a crime, I know, but into everybody’s life a little rain must fall …

Oh, who am I kidding? This is like Geek Christmas! I look forward to FanExpo every year, but not just for the comic artists and writers, but for the access to any comic in the world I’ve ever wanted to buy. Moreover, it’s a chance to talk to comic professionals and even get original art from them.

Not to brag, but I’m very proud of the art that I’ve collected from these folks over the years, but one artist whose work I commissioned a few years ago takes a prominent spot in my basement office – Dale Eaglesham’s drawing of Heather Hudson, aka Guardian from one of my favourite superhero groups ever: Alpha Flight.

Dale’s a really quiet guy; not much for conversation, but he pretty much leaves that to his really charming wife, Wolfie. But the guy’s art is simply amazing. His definition, his detail and the level of precision in his work really stands out as some of the best work in modern comics. If there was an artist who I ever wanted to see succeed, it’s this guy. In fact, I don’t know why he isn’t drawing more because his art is simply amazing. If you want to get an idea of it, check out

Take a look at Sinestro #5, written by Cullen Bunn and drawn by Dale Eaglesham. I love the idea of a villain getting his own comic title (very retro seventies approach) but I love seeing Dale’s work leap out at me from the page. It’s simply stellar and I can’t allow this title to get ignored.

This comic is pretty dark – as you would expect from a villain-titled book, but there’s also a sense of ennobled vindication in Sinestro that you wouldn’t. He’s a frightening guy … doing what he thinks is the right thing for his people. What I love about Eaglesham’s work is the detailed expression on his characters’ faces that truly convince you of their intentions – and you can see that struggle in Sinestro’s face.

I would love to see Eaglesham do more covers – but he’s an interior guy. You can tell he loves playing with panels and borders and arranging them to depict the characters at their most intense. It really supports the storytelling. In fact, if you look at the two-page splash on the 16^th and 17^th pages of this comic, you’ll see what I mean.

I’m hoping I see more of Eaglesham’s work, but even if it’s only one book, I’d rather take the quality over quantity any day – and baby, this guy’s work is all that.