Decoy: Menagerie, Part 2

This anthology gives many writers and artists the chance to have fun playing with Huddleston's initial concept: the adventures of young policeman Bobby Luck and his buddy, Decoy, a cute little shape-shifting green space alien. Bobby has to conceal his friend's existence from everyone else, especially hot rookie Tessa, while Decoy morphs into whatever Bobby needs, from an umbrella to a bulletproof vest. The basic situation turns out to be adaptable into many forms, pulled between the experiences of a big-city cop and a cute, naïve but very powerful extraterrestrial. Some stories that focus on Bobby doing his job can be serious under a humorous exterior, like "The Invisible Man" (by J. Torres and Travis Kotzbue) or "Mind Games" (by Jason Rand and Bob LeFevre). Others are simply humorous as they show Decoy's geekiness, such as "Red Rage" (by George Gladir and Travis Sengaus). Probably the best is the poignant "Giving Thanks" by I.M. Mater and Michael Lopez, which juxtaposes the family experiences of the two. Despite the lack of continuity due to so many hands working on different stories, the anthology holds together surprisingly well, showcasing a range of art styles, all comfortable within the concept. (Dec.)