*WARNING - POSSIBLE SPOILERS!*
ABE SAPIEN #11
Writer: Mike Mignola / Scott Allie
Art: Max Fiumara
Colours: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Clem Robins
To The Last Man [Part 3 of 3]
The horror increases exponentially for the town of Payton, Arizona. Undead hell is unleashed in one swift move as Abe bears witness to it all. He is seen in one panel, stricken with grief and overlooking from shadows, while the narration reads “you’re doomed to find neither friendship nor loyalty”, a line spoken in a different place yet sits perfectly in the context of Abe’s current situation with his change, the events in Payton and the adage of this title since its re-inception.
More questions are asked as this one character creates links with what is happening below and introduces the existence of The Black School - tying into and also opening up more world-creating space between Abe Sapien, B.P.R.D, Hellboy In Hell and probably some of the other titles too.
One page into the issue and we fall violently into a gorgeously gloomy spread by Max Fiumara, who keeps notching up the pace until the end. Dave Stewart’s colouring proves as essential as ever, highlighting the scene jumps in balanced and harmonious ways, while Clem Robins and the scripting maintain an ominous mood with the narrations that move over the separate scenes and panels.
Writer: Caitlin Kittredge
Art: Inaki Miranda
Colours: Eva De La Cruz
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Cover: Dave Johnson
Eve Coffin, born into a bloodline of witches, has returned to Coffin Hill, her place of birth, as well as her ancestors. It had been 10 years since the events in the woods occurred, and something has come back.
This title has been a fusion of great mystery writing, infused with just the right amount of horror - totally unsettling too. Quite a few pieces have assembled themselves in this issue, and the payoff is worth it. The Harvest is explained, friendships are broken and new mystery invoked.
The ride up this roller coaster has reached its peak, and there is nowhere else to go but down. The team on this book has provided consistent storytelling and art. The layouts are especially worth noting, as a lot of the placements are well thought out - giving every page the chance to be immersed as a whole.
Though some secrets have been revealed, the ending indicates that Eve’s story has only just begun - she’s not out of the woods yet!
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Stuart Immonen / Wade Von Grawbadger
Colours: Marte Gracia
Letterer: Cory Petit
The Trial of Jean Grey [Part 5 of 6]
In the last Guardians of the Galaxy issue, the Starjammers and All-New X-Men get some time to bond, especially young Cyclops and his father, Corsair - and it ends when Jean is finally brought to the Shi’ar tribunal.
We start off Part 5 in the midst of the tribunal, Gladiator hammering down his influence until the court is interrupted by J-Son of Spartax.
While the Starjammer/ANXM team successfully deliver an offensive, Jean escapes in the confusion of the trial. The teams finally come face to face with the Shi’ar Imperial Guard but the battle is ended with an unlikely intervention.
Striking and colourful spreads and paneling adorn this issue, as the creative team maintain a great consistency with its current and extended cast. Rocket Raccoon is still awesome, Iceman is still hilarious.
As Part 6 draws this space-opera-drama to a close, we are left questioning the final moral dilemmas that will most certainly arise in the finale, and how its final conjecture will affect the characters, the teams, and the Marvel U in whole.
IMAGE
Invincible #109
East of West #10
Manifest Destiny #5
Mercenary Sea #2
DARK HORSE
Abe Sapien #11
VERTIGO
Coffin Hill #6
MARVEL
All-New X-Men #24
Hawkeye #17
Wolverine #3
X-Men Legacy #300
DC
Batman #29
Justice League 3000 #4
COLLECTED EDITIONS
Lucifer Book 3 [trade paperback]
Batman: Bruce Wayne - Murderer? [trade paperback, new edition]