Omega the Unknown #10

This retelling of the Omega the Unknown story by award winning writer Jonathan Lethem and artist Farel Dalrymple has for the most part been extremely satisfying.  Alas, I have to report that the last issue was something of a letdown, only just passing muster.  Why so?  Well, principly because Lethem has taken the 'Nuff Said approach of producing an issue with next to no text in it (there's just one very brief piece of dialogue between two ancilliary characters).  In a series which has thrived on twists and turns, good writing and dialogue, this is disappointing.  However, I'm sure Lethem had his reasons and I'm willing to put forward a couple of proposals. 

Theory one - Our central character, Omega, is mute.  Therefore by reflecting this in this issue, we empathise with the character.  Theory two - famously Steve Gerber's take on the character was truncated and his storyline had to be finished off in a couple of issues of the Defenders.  Perhaps the wordlessness of this issue was in some way a comment on how the original story was not finished in the way it should be.  I accept I could be wrong on both counts here, but that's my hat in the ring.

Overall, though, this has been a terrific read.  Lethem's angle on superhero comics is certainly a peculiar one.  His range of background characters are all well written and rewarding and it was nice to see, in issue 9, the horrible Mink get some kind of redemption.  Dalrymple's art is a bit of an acquired taste.  I really wasn't sure I'd warm to it - he has a faux naive style.  But because it is so different from anyone else around it actually did grow on me eventually. 

Be warned.  This is not a typical superhero comic and the ending is somewhat idiosyncratic and downbeat.  That said, to anyone joining the party late, I heartily recommend you pick up the trade when it's released later in the year.  Very rewarding.