Villordsutch reviews Dirk Gently: The Salmon of Doubt #8…
Sally runs afoul of Hugo Friedkin and must rely on Dirk to come to her rescue!
At the end of Issue #7 of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency we left “Big-haired” Dirk and Sally at the wrong end of Corporal Friedkin’s gun, as both delved further into the hidden world of the Blackwing Files. Knowing how trigger happy Friedkin can be, this outcome possibly isn’t the best place for our two time-hopping snoopers.
With smarts and the use of a loo, both Sally and “Big-haired” Dirk manage to scarper, leaving Friedkin behind to guard a restroom door. However, this swift exit for our two travellers leads to a conversation with Mr. Microwave, the series of inter-connected monitors that have been guiding Sally through the different time-streams and dimensions. This being Dirk’s first introduction a conversation is struck-up, just before they are both carefully deposited a few feet above a fast-flowing Alaskan River.
Elsewhere, Younger Dirk has met Todd’s landlord and both have engaged in some social marijuana smoking; further afield than Todd Brotzman’s apartment building we find Sir Issac Newton and Professor Reg have a plan to engage and befriend the cat manipulating Princess Kimberly.
Though off-set with a couple of ‘comedic’ moments, Younger Dirk’s stoned wittering and Princess Kimberly’s new adventures, this issue – from Arvind Ethan David – is quite a lonely one for “Big-haired” Dirk, although he has Sally by his side constantly, and you can’t help but feel that his adventuring days will soon be coming to an end. Which – I will say right now – will be a sad day, for I’ve come to enjoy both his strange hair and his rotund waistline, so I hope I’m wrong.
The constant throughout this series is the art and colours from Ilias Kyriazis and Charlie Kirchoff, who bring Arvind Ethan David’s words to life on these pages. Special mention has to go out to Robert Hack’s “Retailer Incentive” cover this month however which is just splendid.
For those keen-eyed spotters out there, you’ll be sure to pick up on a few subtle (or not) moments within these covers. From Adventures in Space and Time, Mr. Microwave seems to be possibly be related to another computer from the Douglas Adams Universe and Younger Dirk’s come down involves a resident of Skaro. Keeping your eyes open reveals numerous treasures.
Rating: 7/10
Originally published June 14, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
