Now, I must confess, as much as I'm a fan of Ron Fortier's work, this is my first, hands-on experience with his--and artist, Gary Kato's--creation: that is, I was familiar with Mr. Jigsaw, aka Charlie Grant, resident of Portland, Maine (who sprung from Charleton Comics and is now part of Rob Davis' Redbud Studio), but alas, only from afar.
So glad I've finally gotten on the ball, for what makes Mr. Jigsaw (aka, Man of a Thousand Parts) so endearing is his throwback style. In fact, just last week I was discussing comics with some folks, who expressed their disdain toward the way so many popular characters have been mishandled in recent years, particularly Marvel's turning dear Cap America into a darn Nazi. This led us to reminisce on older comics, including those of Dell, Harvey and Gold Key, and I gotta say, Mr. Jigsaw embodies the carefree spirit of those latter companies to a tee. I mean, really, this one will delight readers of all ages, especially those of a nostalgic inclination.
(Incidentally, in case one is unaware, Mr. Jigsaw's novelty is his ability to detach his body parts to assist in various situations: the sort of hero that Inspector Gadget fans might appreciate, only Mr. Jigsaw exudes an unmistakable, traditional, superhero vibe.)
The latest issue contains two adventures, the first being "Little Lost Ghost", where our champion is enlisted by an elderly woman, who seeks closure on a brother who vanished some ninety years prior. Along for the ride is a group called the Ghost Finders (a spoof of any such number of reality-show investigators). Before long, a spectral child surfaces, but it's the ever diligent Mr. Jigsaw who unravels the mystery. What follows is not only fun, but deeply moving.
In "Mile High Surprise", Mr. Jigsaw (accompanied by his buddy, Dan Miller) visits Denver's Rocky Mountain Comic Convention, encountering a couple eager fans who prove to be honorable crime-stoppers in their own right. Our hero is also approached by an admirer who'd like to publish a Mr. Jigsaw comic, no less, which naturally leads to lots of good cheer!
The stories comprise a 24-page expanse, with Kato's terrific, black-and-white artwork bringing Fortier's stories to bubbly life. BTW: The dynamic cover is by Darren Goodhart and Mort Todd and superbly captures (as one can clearly see above) the joyous panache of comical, comic covers of the past.
If you have a taste for something different--different, that is, in light of the mean, modern scheme of things--you'll find Mr. Jigsaw #15 a refreshing alternative.
Order your copy today at ... http://www.indyplanet.us/product/150721/.
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