Sledgehammer 44: Lightening War #1

War is hell and being a soldier means facing hell head on. Soldiers see their brothers in arms fall in the heat of battle and it is neither glamorous nor enticing. Its a vicious ballet of bullets and blood that no person should ever experience. Sledgehammer 44, Mike Mignola’s ‘wartime Iron Man’ may feature some fantastical moments during WWII, but at its core is a series about soldiers and the toll the violence and loss can take.

 

Sledgehammer 44: Lightning War #1 finds our hero, Redding, a husk of his former self. Shell shocked and left without a shred of his former humanity, the iron giant sits alone in his cell refusing to talk to anyone. Yet when a top secret military plane falls into enemy hands, Redding steps up not to save the plane, but to save the lone pilot who was captured with it. Unfortunately for him the Allies aren’t the only ones with a top secret weapon.

 

For a comic about a guy in a giant metal suit one would expect a little more light heartedness. Instead we have a heart wrenching tale dealing with the darker aspects of human nature. From post traumatic stress to torture, Mignola and Arcudi dark tale seems worlds away from its Hellboy roots, yet still feels right at home.

 

While they have never shied away from weighter themes in other books, there’s something sorrowful about Reddings portrayal. With great power comes great responsibility, yet also great loss. Even when our hero manages to soldier up, it doesn’t take long before his comic style heroics are brought crashing down to the realities of war. It’s a harrowing tale and its just getting started.

 

Campbell’s art is shown with fitting restraint as he shrouds the book in dark shadows with nary a flicker of light. It adds greatly to the atmosphere and is often times quite pleasing to look at. While the art may appear bland upon first glance, Campbell’s expert management of the shadows is a wonder for those willing to dig a little deeper.

 

The Mignola-verse has grown even larger but Sledgehammer 44: Lightning War #1 is a welcome addition. Offering something a little darker and a lot heavier than what one would expect, this is a book that is fitting of its winter release.

Sledgehammer 44: Lightning War #1
Story:  Mike Mignola & John Arcudi Art: Laurence Campbell Colours: Dave Stewart Letters: Clem Robins
Cover: Mignola & Stewart
Publisher: Mike Richardson for Dark Horse Comics
Purchase: Sledgehammer 44: Lightning War #1