- Title: John Wick #1
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Greg Pak
- Artist: Giovanni Valleta
Set prior to John Wick‘s retirement in the first film, the new series from Dynamite Entertainment focuses on the professional killer’s earlier career. Ghosts from the past lead John Wick to El Paso, Texas where an encounter leads to a confrontation with a gangster he knew from childhood. Whether or not Wick was specifically hunting the killers, or merely coincidence, is a bit unclear (although the former seems more likely). Stepping in on a hit allows John to reintroduce himself to and old “friend” and likely get him into considerable trouble int he issues to follow.
The trouble with John Wick: Chapter 2 was that the motivations in the sequel will far more convoluted than the simple revenge fantasy in the original film. Tying events in this issue to Wick’s childhood makes an attempt to streamline the plot of the comic and lead John Wick on another personal crusade.
I’m not sure how successful the comic will be, but writer Greg Pak and artist Giovanni do a fairly good job in bringing the character to life on the printed page. And the action isn’t half-bad either. Worth a look.
[Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99]