DECOY is the creation of Courtney (he’s a guy) Huddleston and first came to comics in 1999. The series has a loyal following and gained recognition nationally, but deserves more. This second hard cover anthology follows the first, which was an Independent Press Highlight Winner and won acclaim from Publisher’s Weekly, ForeWord Magazine and others. Contributors to this volume are:

Ed Dukeshire, Mike Garcia, George Gladir, Courtney Huddleston, Tim Kane, Travis Kotzebue, Mike Kunkel, Bob LeFevre, Michael Lopez, Robb Mommaerts, Martin Montiel, B. Clay Moore, Emi Nakamoto, Jason Rand, Travis Sengaus, Marlin Shoop, Claude St. Aubin, James Taylor, J. Torres and Brian Wood

Decoy is a kindhearted refugee from an alien world. He saved the life of rookie cop, Bobby Luck, who had been shot by forming a symbiotic relationship. Decoy is a shapeshifter, about three-foot tall and green. He can hide his presence from others and can converse with Bobby in his alien language. On his world, greens eventually turn color to suit their future. Teachers are yellow, warriors are red – but he did not change. In fact he rebelled against the warlike tendencies of his race and was abandoned on Earth.

With that back story you can follow the vignettes in DECOY: MENAGERIE as several talented and award winning pros give their take on him and Bobby. The stories are as varied as the writers. One has Decoy and other Metas from the planet Nacrum visiting Earth in Medieval times to observe violence in other species. Decoy witness a witch hunt and drowning and decides to intercede. Another has Bobby and Decoy, discretely disguised as a coke can, listen in on the swat team to figure out how they can help defuse a hostage situation. The solution is a unique use of Decoy’s power I have never seen used in a story before. Another story features a session with a shrink as Bobby copes with killing a man in the line of duty. Probably the most touching revolves around Decoy trying to figure out the bond between Bobby and his mother. On his world females are breeders and boys are separated from mothers at an early age, never to see them again.

This really is a wonderful book to enjoy and share with others. There are stories of all type from hilarious to emotional to suspenseful and everything else. The art in every case is well suited and the finishes are what you come to expect from everything out of Penny Farthing Press. This one is solicited in Previews to ship in December. Look for it and order it. Better yet look for some back issues of the comic series at the store or online at the publisher’s web site. It is worthy of your attention.

Writing Rating: (8/10) Artistic Rating: (9/10) Overall Rating: (8.5/10

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