Review by Larry Stanley

The Moth is that rare and fun to find Comic book with a retro feel that demonstrates how much fun Comics books used to be and how much fun they could be again.

Telling the story of Jack Mahoney who by day is a member of the Vansant 3 Ring Circus and at night is a masked bounty hunter and vigilante.
After his friend Victor Vansant is killed, Jack inherits the circus taking the responsibility for the other workers and his little brother Tad. He fights against corruption, bill collectors, mob hit men and African lion gods and still manages to keep the big top going.

This trade collects issues #1-4 of The Moth and The Moth Double-Sized Special by Steve Rude who does a great job of sending the reader back to the classic days of good story telling without massive amounts of blood or T&A.
Don't worry; there are still a few spandex covered women. Most notably the hero American Liberty, a cross between a New York ad woman and a female Captain America.

And we also have a 'mysterious stranger' who seems to be keeping a watchful eye on Jack and Tad Mahoney. Who is he, we ask?
But Jack world is still filled with bills to pay and a business to run; and as he interviews new performers he begins to see the difficulties his mentor and friend Victor went through. But it is as the Moth that Jack is able to keep the circus going, by making money as a bounty hunter.
Of course, even this is not without it's dangers as fellow bounty hunter Nestor Delgado who has his own bone to pick with him attacks Jack.

The writing by Gary Martin is first rate all around and the art by Steve Rude shows an understanding of his craft that few ever truly master. He does not try and fill the page with unneeded images to distract from badly rendered faces or body positions, but instead uses backgrounds to enhance the main images the reader sees.

His work reminds one in many places of Jack Kirby and his early Marvel work, without being an outright copy of the Kings style and art.
Jack Mahoney is a hero of the old school. His wit, style and charm all add together to make an enjoyable character and his adventures are well worth reading.

Count me as a new fan of The Moth.