By Herb Trimpe, Dick Ayers, Sam Grainger and Gary Friedrich
Notably the first and last appearance of a character named Bullseye (no relation to the Colin Farrell character in Daredevil [2003]) as well as being the final issue of new material for the series, after which the title abruptly shifted to reprint material.
As if all that weren't enough, Bullseye tries to assassinate the hapless secret agent as he attends a Country Joe and the Fish concert, and they appear on the page!
Gimmicks aside, this issue also features some simply incredible Trimpe/Ayers page design. The entire issue feels as though they were told to emulate the Steranko High Design style that inaugurated the series--and they do a pretty good job from the film strip title page to the bland version of the Steranko love scene used here (slide 3). But what I really love is when they try something new, like the page in slide 4. That page shouldn't work, and I'm not convinced that it does, but it's sure interesting to look at. I could stay on that page alone for ever, it's completely open ended how to read, yet very clear. It's ugly, a little unbalanced, but everything fits in place. I think this is helped by the extreme angle of the establishing shot that gives a diegetic justification for the panels below it--they're the rungs of the ladder that Bullseye is perched upon. Later artists like JH Williams might literally incorporate the rungs of the ladder into the panel design, but Trimpe and Ayers had deadlines to meet, so this is what we get. And I love it for that reason, you can feel the craft and intention while still appreciating the economy of energy used.
Recommended.
