Peter Panzerfaust #10: “Paris” Conclusion

Written by: Laura Hong-Tuason, CC2K Comics Editor

“Everyone here believes in you. Lily and I may have pulled your foolish asses out of the fire, but they all followed you into it. It is the sign of a great man, Peter.” –Wendy Darling

Writer: Kurtis J. Wiebe

Illustrator: Tyler Jenkins

This month’s Peter Panzerfaust winds down as the “Paris” story arc comes to a close. The action may be minimal and the pacing has relatively declined, but this issue is still a winner. It’ll leave you feeling good and inspired, no matter what kind of battle you are fighting.

The story begins on a tense note, with Peter and the Lost Boys taking in the death of a nameless, yet significant boy who was forced to walk the plank off a building before getting shot by the Nazis. The longer Peter refuses to reveal the location of the Brave’s hideout, the more boys are forced to meet the same fate. These pages are in black and white with a touch of brown undertones, perfectly capturing the drama of the situation as Peter holds the power of life and death in his hands.

The next sequences are filled with action. Though brief, these pages are awesomely done by artist Tyler Jenkins. He sums up everything well in such a short period of time, making way for Kurtis Wiebe to kick in Julien’s overarching narrative.

From here on out, the story takes a breather as Julien recounts the aftermath of their captivity by the Hook and the Nazis. Rather than be broken down by his experience, Julien talks of how Peter was able to positively channel this experience and instill in all of them strength, hope, and joy. That is what makes Peter such a formidable leader. And it is Julien’s and everyone else’s admiration of Peter that makes this comic what it is.

The rest of the story borders on the cliché but in a time of war, what Wiebe presents to us makes sense. Peter Panzerfaust isn’t just about battles and the tragedies can come with them. It’s really about the strength of the heart and the will. It’s about family and friendship. It’s about passion. Without any of these, the path to victory is but a distant dream.

Peter Panzerfaust #10 doesn’t compare to the previous issue. Nonetheless, it does conclude the “Paris” arc nicely and has its highlights. For one thing, Wiebe knows how to leave us in a good balance of uncertainty and foreshadowing. Since he’s telling the story through recollections, you can never be to sure who has survived this war. Moreover, he seamlessly sprinkles in Peter Pan mythology, making them tangible and genuine rather than forced. Jenkins also does some excellent illustrations in this issue. It can be hard to tell his characters apart sometimes, but his close-ups in this issue are complete with wonderful detail.

For new readers, the upcoming issue is a good jumping on point. The narrative begins anew as we revisit the memories of Felix. Unlike Gilbert and Julien, Felix is a character with a lot of pent up rage and hatred. He has also been a prisoner of war. I sense we are in for a somber ride, as Felix’s narrative will no doubt reflect the even harsher sides of war. Request your copies today and jump on board!