Villordsutch reviews Dirk Gently: The Salmon of Doubt #2…
Plagued by nightmares about a childhood he never had, Dirk Gently has returned to Cambridge University to seek the advice of his former tutor, the time-traveling Professor Reg Chronotis. There he discovers that a holistic detective can have more than one past, and his adventures have only just begun… Featuring favorite characters from the original books as well as the cast from the TV series, including Samuel Barnett and Elijah Wood!
In the last issue of Dirk Gently: The Salmon of Doubt we left Sally Mills becoming an accidental time-traveller, as she used the bathroom of an absent minded Professor (Reg), who both are visiting to work out an issue within Dirk’s past. We also witnessed Bernice (Schrödingers cat) becoming catnapped by a Goblin called “Peasbottom” in Cambridge. If you believe this all to be a bit strange, you have yet to read part two of Dirk Gently: The Salmon of Doubt from Arvind Ethan David.
With Dirk and the Professor attempting to discover the pattern used to follow Sally through time, our Holistic Detective deduces what is actually the driving force behind the time travel, and with this he sticks himself down the loo whilst thinking of Sally.
Meanwhile Sally, who is stood in front of numerous monitors each showing many versions of Dirk in different moments, is being addressed by a being with many names. When eventually she touches a monitor she is transported to a secure complex to witness a brutal battle between armed guards and a group of prisoners with super powers – one a child called Svlad Cjelli.
It takes a brave writer – as said last month – to tackle The Salmon of Doubt, and here Arvind Ethan David shows even more so why he is wielding the pen for this series! Not only are we being delivered a mystery (Project Incubus), but even deeper mysteries are being peeked at, like where the cats are and wondering what happening to the poor Hammerhead Shark! We also have a beautiful Big Lebowski reference thrown in, a world of punk, people bursting into flames and then a teaser of knights in shining armour. Also who does have many names and where is nowhere? All of this is crammed into a mere thirty-four pages; this in itself is something that Dirk needs to investigate on how it’s even possible!?
Again this Dirk Gently comic is brought up to an even higher level due to excellent art and colours from both Ilias Kyriazis and Charlie Kirchoff. Both shine within Dirk Gently, bringing the pages and panels to life. All three people involved – Arvind, Kyriazis and Kirchoff – are making this my monthly treat!
Dirk Gently: The Salmon of Doubt #2 is an excellent comic. I’d say words cannot describe how brilliant it is but I think I’ve just gushed nearly four-hundred of them! If the Adams estate are thinking of releasing another Dirk Gently novel, I’d instantly recommend Arvind for the role now. You all need to buy this Dirk Gently comic!
Rating: 10/10
Originally published November 9, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
