(DC COMICS, 2011)   -   Reviewed by Feral Fang

“100 Words” is one of those great things that only comes around every so often.  The short digital comic from DC is written by Neil Gaiman and features beautiful pencil artwork by Jim Lee, seen here in a much different style of artwork than he’s mostly known for.  Released with all of DC’s proceeds going to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, this short-but-very-sweet comic is available from DC’s website in digital form for only .99 cents.  Let me tell you this is .99 cents very well spent, and something I would have gladly paid much more for.  What you get in “100 Words” is a beautiful poem from Neil Gaiman set to the previously mentioned Jim Lee pencil work, and it is an amazing thing.  I’ve always liked Jim Lee’s artwork, and feel he’s really come into his own with what most consider some of his worst work - the current New 52 “Justice League” title.  This is a man who knows how to draw figures, and draw them very well.  The Jim Lee we see in this, however, is one with a very light touch, the work more refined pencil sketches than hard, inked images.  This is a Lee that plays with the format, flowing free on a page layout with no borders and no panels - the art frames itself mostly in a collection of sketchy scribbles that come together to form the breath-takingly intricate line work.  What I hear the most from critics of Lee’s JL work is that it’s too dull, too wooden.  That is not the case here in any way, as the work itself is so lively and full of emotion that it mirrors Gaiman’s sentimental words perfectly.  It may only be a few pages long, but this is one digital comic I would highly recommend.  The mixture of emotion and imagery is something I hope to see these artists tackle together again, and hopefully soon.  You can grab it yourself here: http://www.readdcentertainment.com/100-Words/comics-series/5621

— 5 out of 5 missing chairs for Scott Williams.

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