Conor pointed out in the comments section that this book was the question mark of the week, and with good reason.  This begins the a brand new creative team on what has been one of DC’s best titles.  And the shoes that Darwyn Cooke has left them to fill are big…like Manute Bull big.

So, how did they fair?  Well, in my humble opinion, they didn’t do too bad of a job.  I went into the book expecting the opposite from Darwyn Cooke, which I think is the way you have to view this book.  These two creators have taken the character and done a 180 from what it was the Darwyn did with him.  While Darwyn masterfully captured the tone of the character while weaving an adult tale, Argones decided to play the character closer to Eisner’s original character.  The characters in this book are all lovable goofballs, and they talk and act like they were whisked back to the 50’s where dumb luck and silly situations ruled these character’s lives.  And I’m ok with that.  This story reminded me very much of some of Eisner’s previous tales, but I would like to see them branch out more and try different things with the character.  One of the best things Darwyn did was to evolve the character of the Spirit…he shined a light on him from a different angle.  And while I enjoy Argones’ take on him, I want to see him do more with him;  I don’t mind if he writes this book like Eisner, but try to evolve it from that point.  Overall, though, I enjoyed it.

Ploog on art duties is no Darwyn Cooke, so we can’t blame him if the book doesn’t quite have the visual punch it once had.  I will say this: the visuals are servicible.  They do what needs to be done.  But too many times the Spirit looked like a different guy.  Some angles and items (especially some of the clothing).  And let’s not forget about Doyle’s chin.  Yeesh, that thing could kill and eat Jay Leno.  One other thing is that the art is not dynamic enough.  Eisner was always able to find some way to make a scene or page really jump out, and of course, Cooke did that all the time.  I would like to see Ploog try to carry on that tradition.

I’m still on this book only to see where these guys are going to take it.  I see potential to catpure the Spirit tales of old, but it leaves me wondering: is this what comic fans really want right now?  I know I’d buy it; would you?