Buzzard is back and boy, is he pissed.

After taking a short hiatus through the third and fourth trades in “The Goon” series, everyone’s favorite elderly, gun-toting cannibal has returned to the story and is in the center of the action once again. After a long slumber, Buzzard finally comes to grips with his curse and is ready to make the nameless priest pay for his evil deeds in “Wicked Inclinations.”

How, you ask? Let’s just say that one certain villain has been to “Cheers” lately, because someone knows his name.

That someone is easily the most dangerous person this side of Lonely street.

You guessed it, none other than Buzzard himself.

Petrified at the thought of losing everything he’s worked for, the nameless priest hatches up a scheme that tears the town apart and increases his forces to an alarmingly high level. That, of course, thrusts the Goon and Frankie into action, creating one of the most engaging scenarios in the series’ history. With Buzzard by their side, the foul-mouthed duo originally seem to have everything taken care of, but there are twists and turns at every corner, as old and new enemies alike find their way into the story, creating a tale unlike any other previously told in the series.

A departure from the older stories in the fact that there’s much more action and less comedy, Eric Powell’s masterpiece still manages to do what it does best: make you smile. Because of the accelerated action, the art takes center-stage this time around, showcasing just how talented the Eisner-winner is. The art is so solid that if you had any qualms about just how remarkably brilliant, yet charismatically insane Powell is before reading this book, you’ll be absolutely, positively able to put those thoughts to rest after reading “Wicked Inclinations.”

That however, doesn’t take anything away from the story, which is engaging, well-thought out and full of mystery. Like the other stories told with these characters, it’s over in a flash, but you’ll remember every gunshot, stab and punch, thanks to Powell’s throwback writing style that is as concise and blunt as it is freakishly addicting and noir-driven.

As a result, it’s another must-own in the series.

It’s going to take a while for the Goon and company to get things back to normal and even though this trade is only the beginning of that process, it’s chock-full of the same intensity that made the series a fan favorite and one that like fine wine, or in the case of the Buzzard, only gets better with age.

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