Though I'm quite familiar with the character of Tim Hunter, the first issue of this new title didn't hook me at all. It boasted potential, yes, but I quickly lost touch with the series. A new story arc gets underway in this sixth issue, and though I'm still lost (and not quite interested) in the larger plotlines, there's no denying that there's some powerful characterization to be found in this issue. It's not easy to relate to the central figure in this issue, but it is easy to believe in him. Spencer crafts an uncomfortable story about family and sexuality here that's rather sad, and it also comes off as a cautionary tale about the dangers of a completely hedonistic lifestyle.
Dog thinks back to the day he and his sister Cat met Tim Hunter and his girlfriend Molly, and how a roll of his usually lucky dice brought them all together. A dice game became a key part of their larger friendship, a way to play truth or dare without the truth and a wide variety of dares. Cat's provocative nature made for some rather sexual adventures, none of which sit too well with her brother. Sure, he has that overprotective thing on the go that all brothers do, but there's something more to his disquiet.
Duncan Fegredo's art is much more grounded and accessible than Dean Ormston's work in earlier issues. Fegredo captures the carefree but dirty lifestyles of young people who are more focused fleeting moments of fun and pleasure than lives that actually need tending to. Stephenson's colors maintain a dark and foreboding mood throughout the book and reinforce Fegredo's efforts to convey the rundown and dingy qualities of the settings.
When it comes to who Tim Hunter is, what he can do, why he's doing it and what he's mixed up in, Spencer's script falls short. And not just a little bit. I realize Dog's in the spotlight here, but there's little other information to be found here about the larger storyline that has unfolded up until now. There's little background, and what exposition can be found is lost in the vague and confusing scene transitions.
Fortunately, Spencer's script -- which is based on a story he and Neil Gaiman came up with -- and its exploration of a brother's feelings for his sister more than makes up for the weaknesses to be found in this issue. Cat's raw sexuality makes it easy to understand why Dog has the unnatural obsession with her that he does. It's also easy to understand why those feelings would tear him up so much. Dog is undergoing emotional torture, and no one around him appreciates it. 7/10
