Image Comics reviews 5/10/23 – Junkyard Joe #6, The Ambassadors #4

The Ambassadors #4

This issue of the world’s greatest lottery to become a superhero takes the road trip to Brazil.

Writer Mark Millar introduces us to Father Vitor Pereira, a deeply religious man trying to work through the corruption of the police under the thumb of a crime boss. Vitor is a good man and is equally humble. When approached to join the Ambassadors, he wasn’t thrilled with the idea insisting he’s already part of another team and doesn’t need to be a superhero.

Vitor is also trying to help redeem Zee, one of the officers who carries out her boss’ orders, so someone worse doesn’t come along and replace her. Miller has done a fantastic job of making these issues work as self-contained stories and also part of the larger arc.

Millar reunites with his Magic Order artist Olivier Coipel as the rotating artist theme continues. Coipel and Millar have an easy shorthand, so Millar knows how to write to Coipel’s strengths, which are his stellar attention to detail and emotive characters.

Coipel puts such fun little details in his pages that they warrant revisiting. Take the crime boss lounging like a slob on his couch while next to him, his cat is licking its crotch before coming over and licking the crime boss in his face.

Giovanna Niro’s colors provide that smooth realistic edge that complements Coipel’s artwork so well.

The issue ends with a tease on the epilogue moments from previous issues and a hint that they’ve assembled and ready to cause problems for the Ambassadors. This title keeps delivering and I’m thrilled to have my passport to go along for the ride.

Rating: 10 out of 10