The Fix #4 Review

The Fix #4
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Steve Lieber
Colorist: Ryan Hill
Letterer: Nic J Shaw
Publisher: Image
Reviewed by David Hildebrand

Take your favorite parts from 80’s cop buddy films. Combine them with some adult humor, quirky characters, smart dialogue, a shirt covered in roses and you have The Fix. If you aren’t up to date on the antics of the crooked and scheming cops Roy and Mac, then you need to catch up. The previous issues are in multiple printings. After reading this issue, there are no signs of this series losing momentum.

In the last issue all the focus was on Roy building up the trust of a young starlet so he could use her in his plot.  This issue is all about Mac.  The issue starts out with Mac reflecting on his past from being in high school.  He moves along to meeting his young love in college. And then his young love becoming his wife and cursing him out in front of poor Pretzels the dog because she doesn’t approve of the dog being Mac’s new partner.  Not to mention, her cat Dumbledore doesn’t like Pretzels either. Unfortunate for Mac, Pretzels doesn’t like him! This is a problem that Mac needs to solve!

Our baddie Josh returns in this issue.  After a very funny scene where Josh is awaiting Mac in an elevator, Josh attempts to educate Mac on how he can get Pretzels to trust him.  Worst comes to worst, he can always donate money to a shelter in Pretzels’ name.  Clearly you see that Mac, despite the dog not liking him, would rather not see the little guy’s life come to an end.  The rest of issue doesn’t let up. We get to meet a new character. His name is not known, but Josh knows he is coming and is expecting him.  We see he is a patient man but at the same time, not one to be messed with. Just like the previous issues, the end of the book leads to more questions!  There is not a direct path in this story, a new issue is released, a new variable is introduced and it has been one hell of a ride so far!

I cannot say enough about Spencer and Lieber.  These two guys should be shackled together for life and made to create stories from now until civilization ends! Spencer has made me love each character for who they are.  I don’t want to see any of them meet their demise, not even the bad guys!  They all ooze style and there is something about each that I think most anyone could identify with.  Lieber’s art is never monotonous. Each panel is detailed and delivers the emotion of the characters. It is like you are reading a movie.  The cover of this issue alone had me cracking up when I first saw it. The determined look on Pretzel’s face as he is flying an airplane is brilliant! It sums up the humor of this book before you even open the first page. Hill’s colors continue to set the tone of the book with neutral colors, adding a pop when needed.

Verdict:
BUY IT!!!!!!! Broken record time!!! Buy the damn book! It is funny, well written, and the art gels so well with the story.  Each month, I tell people to buy this book! It is in multiple printings, maybe some of you are listening?  If you love a good crooked cop story (who doesn’t?) mixed with some good dark humor, then you have to do yourself justice and pick up this book!  Did I mention to buy the damn book?