Armada; $2.95

Atmospherically and tonally, the story in this 1996 one-shot fits right in with writer-artist Bob Hall’s original Armed & Dangerous mini-series, which preceded it, and with Armed & Dangerous: Hell’s Slaughterhouse, which followed.

That said, “Kandi Kane, the Saturday Night Special” is a noir creature all its own. Sure, there are a number of background elements that link it to the other two mini-series, but it was fitting that Hall chose to do this story in one-and-done fashion.

Stripper Kandi Kane relates her story, told from the viewpoint of a critical junction in her life, in a blunt, matter-of-fact fashion. Despite the sordid details and the things at which she only hints, she still comes across as a character with hope in an arena in which many do not.

Typical for Hall, it’s powerful storytelling. As is the case with all nine Armed & Dangerous issues, it comes across as a labor of love and is well worth tracking down for crime comics fans.

– J.C. Vaughn