No other current comic sustains the density of ideas that novelist-turned-comic-author China Mieville has imbued in Dial H. Even more impressive, Mieville has already mastered the perfect tone for his chosen medium. He balances bold and philosophically subtle ideas, social satire (most pointed in last month’s issue), action thriller, and clever humor. Each episode’s new heroes provide a particularly convenient platform for the last, and he and his artists have yet to disappoint.

Admittedly, Mieville’s storytelling is unconventional, though #7 may be the closest he’s yet come to a traditional action plot. He continually eschews customary comics practices: casting an overweight, out-of-work schlub and an old woman as his protagonists; privileging weird superhero alter-egos (remember Bumper Carla?) over sexy, powerful ones; tending toward difficult-to-follow, nearly nonsensical inner narration during transformation sequences; and refusing to let anything come easy or without consequences.

ART: David Lapham takes over this issue for Santolouco, and though he facilitates Mieville’s story well enough, he adds very little luster of his own. His handling of the Planktonian was a notable exception, which must have been unenviably difficult to visualize.