Eight days a week. (Of ninjas.)
Well folks, here we are. One the very best single sequences in all of Reckless Life.
As we’ve established several times I love me a montage. (It might be becasue I watch all seven Rocky movies annually.) There was no WAY that this ridiculous yarn wasn't getting one too and it’s far and away my favorite one.
Let’s dive in
Page 25
As we established last time Locke is done with this ninja nonsense but said ninja nonsense is not done with him. Here we find him ordering some Taco Bell like all action heroes do when the madness ensues.
Locke is definitely putting in my order of two cheesy Gordita crunches and a code red of course because he IS my id. (I assume that price of $5.32 is what that actually cost in 2004. Good future-proofing there, Tim.) He’s also doing something I do — making up words to songs when he’s alone in the car. (My car is not stolen FYI.)
It's always a good time for Chuck Berry.
2004 Tim spent some time making that ninja star in illustrator for page 19 and of course he felt the need to use it again here in panel 4. A bit more successfully than last time, I think.
Panel five has some perspective problems but I do love the “GEEZ” reaction. Locke is still in on the joke for the moment and sees this all more as an annoyance than an actual threat.
Page 26
Oh, ninja hooker. I love this bit both in concept and in execution.
It’s easy to miss but what I’m implying here is Locke hires hookers in part just to have someone to talk about his day with but she’s just as bored with him as every girl at The Crossroader. Poor Locke.
And then there’s that sai in the bra bit. *Chef’s kiss* 2004 Tim. I still love that and the ensuing sound effects. The last panel is kind of a dud art-wise and a little bit of a Seinfeld reference but I’m gonna let it slide. I love this page.
Page 27
Welcome to Locke’s day-to-day! (Which we haven’t really explored to this point.) His frustration is mounting daily. (Again, he's still not actually worried for his life — this WILL pay off I promise.) Anyway, apparently has an every other day routine of doing something action hero-y and then something totally banal. Work/life balance is important.
At the risk of gushing more I love that ninjas are actually playing cards while they wait for Locke to show up. This is where this story really hits the 30 Rock style EVERYTHING is a joke point.
Page 28
The Saturday page is a little bit of a rerun of the ninja hooker page with the sound effect cheat which I know was not a callback and just 2004 Tim not being THAT creative so we’ll deduct a few points. That aside it’s still pretty well-drawn and I think the “I can’t even take a piss?!” joke lands pretty well.
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The last part of this sequence is a clear riff on the hero getting ready to kick ass trope WAY before James Gunn did it. (If you somehow see this James Gunn I love you and mean no disrespect. Please hire me.) Anyways, to nail it home one more time Locke chugs a beer before going to fight the movie ninjas one last time because come on. They’re not a real threat. Right?
Locke’s posters are Jessica Rabbit because this is a cartoon bachelor pad and Steampunk by Joe Kelly and Chris Bachalo because that unfinished masterpiece rules and I suggest you read what’s available.
NEXT TIME: This is no longer a joke to Locke.