Dial H for HERO has been a delightful series so far, for several reasons. First is its commitment to deep dives into character detail and motivation. Another reason is its off-kilter sense of humor. Most important, though, is its tendency to subvert and remix the tropes and cliches of superhero stories and to reinvent the way stories are told through comics altogether. Dial H for HERO #8 is a prime example of this.

This issue turns storytelling on its head by splitting the story into two parts being told simultaneously. One story is the account of Robby Reed, and his transformation into The Operator told linearly. The other is the story of the villainous Mister Thunderbolt, told backward. The two stories collide at the end (or rather the middle?) with a revelation that might not be a surprise to those who have been paying attention but is still well-executed and creates new possibilities for future issues.

Writer Sam Humphries shows almost Alan Moore levels of formalism in this unconventional story, having each page of the forward's story somehow mirror the backward story in some way, foreshadowing the reveal at the end. Humphries really digs deep into both Robby Reed and Mister Thunderbolt, giving the reader sharp insight into what makes each of these characters tick.

One of the innovations of Dial H for HERO is how it handles the art, with shifts in art styles and organic handling of the material by guest artists. Most of this issue is drawn by Paula Ganucheau with colors by Jordan Gibson, and the change in artists isn't jarring because of the unusual style of the comic and the groundwork laid down by previous issues to allow for divergences like this. Ganucheau gamely tackles Humphries' bizarre structure here, and the installment is a delight. The series' regular artist Joe Quinones handles all of the art for the first page and the last page of the chapter, cementing the divergent style into the regular storytelling of the series. Letterer Dave Sharpe does excellent work tying everything together.

Dial H for HERO #8 is an excellent comic. It has heart, it digs deep into character, and it excitingly plays with the form. What more could you want?

Grade: A