Don’t Miss This: “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” by Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco
There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week we are going back in time to an alternate World War I with flying dragons and magical warriors in “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” by Kurt Busiek & Carlos Pacheco. On a secret mission for the allied forces, Fletcher Arrowsmith needs to find a spy who can put in place a plan to win the war against the Prussians, but with any good plan comes a fair share of problems. If you like alternate histories, high-flying combat, and magical mysteries, then this is the comic for you! Join us as we show you why you should be behind enemy lines with one of Columbia’s finest Dragonriders.
Who is this by?
“Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” reunited the original “Arrowsmith” team of Kurt Busiek (“Astro City,” “Arrowsmith,” “Marvels”) and Carlos Pacheco (“Age of Ultron,” “Arrowsmith,” “JSA.”) While it’s been close to 20 years since the first adventures of Fletcher Arrowsmith hit the stands, Busiek and Pacheco haven’t missed a beat bringing this alternate timeline to life. “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” is a clear example of two creative talents working in tandem, creating a magical and mysterious world without shying away from the darker nature of war.
Joining the adventure are Jose Rafael Fonteriz (“Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda,” “Defenders,”) on inks, Jose Villarrubia (“Batman: Year 100,” “The Amazing Spider-Man”) on colors, and Comicraft’s Tyler Smith and Jimmy Betancourt on lettering. These creators create a lush and vibrant world for “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” with colors and letters that make the series feel classic and otherworldly.
What’s it all about?
During World War I, young Columbian Dragon Pilot Fletcher Arrowsmith is sent on a dangerous mission to find a spy and set a plan into motion in “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines.” After making contact with the spy, things escalate from challenging to downright dangerous as the pair make their way across Europe to free a Faerie princess and try to ally with The Trollhome.
The problem, of course, is that some incredibly dangerous men are pursuing the duo. “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” has the terrifying and charismatic Black Baron of the Prussian Air Force and a pair of priests from the Crux, a mysterious and malevolent branch of the Catholic Church. While Fletcher and his friend make their way to complete the mission, the danger is at every turn.
What makes it so great?
Alternate histories aren’t the easiest thing to capture because it’s more than just adding one or two new elements into an otherwise everyday world. Things like magic, the existence of the extraterrestrial, or holy relics of unspeakable power could create ripple effects through our timeline, create new nations, prevent certain conflicts, or enhance others. One of the reasons that “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” works so well is that Busiek and Pacheco have a solid handle on their alternate timeline. Sure we still have World War I, but the names of the countries are different, the factions of allies and enemies are varied, and we have other players as well. In the world of Arrowsmith, fae, vampires, dragons, trolls, and other forces coexist in our world, which creates new forms of prejudice and new avenues for exploring the conflict.
While this all might seem a little overwhelming, Busiek does a remarkable job of creating a guide that encourages you to learn more about the world . Fletcher Arrowsmith is equal parts heroic guide and innocence lost as he sees the darker side of war, escorting Guy through the Prussian wilderness to complete a time-sensitive mission. Through Fletcher’s narration, “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” doles out the worldbuilding of our new World War I. You don’t get info dumps or boring meetings of Ally’s top brass. Instead, Fletcher is learning with us. Sometimes he’s even as confused as we are, which helps digest the information. Busiek’s writing captures that space between magical whimsy and the dark reality of war exceptionally well, and he does a remarkable job of keeping Arrowsmith sympathetic.
The thing that makes “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” really work, though, is the strong art of the series. Pacheco is exceptional at capturing character emotions, from Fletcher’s laid-back Columbian attitude, to Guy’s cynical view of the world, to the Black Baron’s heightened superiority. You always know what the characters are thinking and learn a lot from their little nuances of body language or expressions. He’s also excellent at capturing dynamic action, with the fight between a dragon pilot and the Black Baron in issue 2 as a prime example. But what makes the artwork is the coloring. Jose Villarrubia makes the art look closer to watercolor illustration, which helps give it an older feeling. Similarly, most of the environments we encounter are monotone and not particularly vibrant, which makes the magical worlds and dragons pop on the page. Between the excellent illustrations and the classical coloring, it almost feels like a book plucked out of a different era in a compelling way.
Overall, “Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” can look a little daunting between the alternate world, the rules of magic, and the chase through the woods of Prussia, but with a sympathetic narrator and dynamic art, it becomes an exciting adventure with some excellent tension.
How can you read it?
“Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines” is published monthly by Image Comics, and the 5th issue comes out this week. You can catch up on the adventure at Comixology and your local comic shop. If you want more adventures of Fletcher Arrowsmith, Busiek and Pachecho’s first story, “Arrowsmith: So Smart In Their Fine Uniform,” is available in trade paperback and can be found on Amazon or your local comic store.
