Peter and the gang have made their way out of city, picked up some new friends, and have found a safe haven. Can this Neverland provide the peace they are looking for while the war rages around them?
Illustrator: Kurtis Weibe
Art: Tyler Jenkins
Colors: Alex Soliazzo
Letters: Ed Brisson
Editor: Laura Tavishati
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.50
Previously in Peter Panzerfaust: Led by Peter, the group of orphans made their way through the sewers to escape the German attack, but as luck would have it they emerged just outside a German controlled factory that blocked their path to Paris. Once the base was under their control, the group, now with motor transportation, hit the road. Just as everything seemed to be going fine, a plane fell from the sky adding more members to their group, including a girl!
HER NAME IS WENDY DARLING
In this pseudo-alternate reality Peter Pan story there have been great moments that bring the fairy tale into the era of WWII: Peter jumping into the scene in issue 1, Peter stabbing the German officer in the hand setting up a Hook villain, and last issue with Peter saving Wendy out of the burning plane. This issue doesn’t disappoint in offering up pieces harkening back to that timeless story either. Issue four takes place in a “Neverland” that the group stumbles upon as they were looking for some water. And Neverland is where they decide to stay for a time in an attempt to wait out the war. Deciding to stay gave Wendy and Peter time to grow their new relationship, as well as the orphans to do some grieving over what they have lost.
The tranquility of Neverland soon dissipates when Felix and John spot both French and German military approaching to do battle on their Neverland homestead! As the two run towards the house to warn the rest, the gun fire and artillery start being fired from all sides and hit the house. The ending was emotionally engaging by not only witnessing the actions on panel, but with the narration happening earlier in the book from the current time Gilbert. Flashing forward to Gilbert discussing their adventures has served well in setting up each issue and giving hints to what is coming in the future.
BANGARANG
I love a good period art style, and that’s just what we get here. The world that Tyler Jenkins and Alex Soliazzo are putting on paper could only be 1940’s France. Soliazzo has been using the browns well to give images that slightly old-tinted look that I assume the entire world look like back then. Jenkins’s work on the quick three pages of Wendy and Peter’s conversation was able to show case their personalities and had my complete attention (it does help that Wendy is easy to look at though). My only problem with the art has been the flash forwards. The same coloring scheme is used for both time periods, which visually makes it seem they could take place concurrently.
BOTTOM LINE: A NEW LIFE
My last big encounter with the Peter Pan story was in the form of Robin Williams in Hook. While I do have a soft part in my heart for that film, I’m glad that this book is not that. I truly believe that the creation team has presented a form of Peter that is both magical and adventurous without needing the aid of pixie dust or giant crocodiles (not saying that throwing in the croc wouldn’t be awesome though). Peter Panzerfaust is a title that you should be checking into every month and I’m giving this issue 4 out of 5 stars.
[rating:4/5]
