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Writer: Kyle Starks
Illustrated By: Fran Galán
Lettered By: Pat Brosseau
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Now this is why I love to read comic book issues. As someone who reads comics, I often get asked why I read in the issue format week to week and not just wait for trade paperbacks. It is a cheaper way to go. Well, that’s because of the unique experience issues afford you.
There’s something special about watching the elements of the story slowly build to a complete picture only to leave you on a massive cliffhanger you have no choice but to wait for. It is the power of anticipation. Issue four of Pine and Merimac gave me the exact experience I crave as a comic book reader.
This issue picks up right as the last one ended as Linnea and Parker find themselves in the middle of a Cult’s Deadly ritual. Surrounded by enemies on all sides they try to make their escape without being noticed. It does help that the security the Cult has hired is not very good at their job, but escape does not mean safety as the threat comes closer to home than ever before.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Those clumsy security agents provided some of the best comedy of this series thus far. A Kyle Starks book with effective comedy is not new, but this has been a series where that side has been more muted than normal. With this issue, the comedy seemed a bit more prominent than before. Part of me worried it would hinder the stakes if it leaned too much into those laughs. As the story progressed it became apparent this was a game of rope a dope because just as it seemed the day was won a massive knockout came out of nowhere.
As mentioned all the pieces began falling into place, even pieces that appeared irrelevant to the overall narrative. For example when it comes to some of the side characters that seemed to be there just for comic relief. At first, they appeared to be a nice plot garnish not designed to do much more than make everything around them look better. Now a character like Abigail Bryne appears much more important to the overall plot.
Speaking of Abigail Bryne she also speaks to the larger theme of this issue regarding things being more complicated than they first appeared. Bryne has been the equivalent of every person the internet has labeled a ‘Karen’ rolled into one person. Here we get a hint regarding some of the reasoning behind her insipid attitude.
Similarly, Jody who appears like a wannabe Burt Gummer, is a pacifist lacking a secret weapon cache. People are more complex than we realize. That can also go the other way as someone you trust may hold some deep secrets. This was a nice bit of foreshadowing hidden within character development. That’s not an easy task.
I am becoming a bigger and bigger fan of Fran Galán’s artistic style. His designs have a cartoonish tinge, allowing for great expression and emotion without appearing as comedic creations. This is not a series with a great deal of action but when it occurs it is clear, crisp, and impactful.
His pages are very character-focused as faces tell this story. This issue held multiple scenes of massive crowds and you feel a part of those moments. People are crammed on the page to represent the complete lack of room, and sometimes those people have an eclectic style of dress and costume design. Not to kink shame anyone or anything.
One of the downsides his backgrounds can be a bit lacking so it is unclear where a scene is taking place. The camera is so locked in on the characters the world around them can become a bit innocuous. Part of that may be purposeful so you feel the confusion these characters are feeling, but at the same time, it takes some time to get your bearings from scene to scene.
Pacing is quite quick moving moment to moment. Linnea and Parker are in quite a bit of trouble as they have become the prime target of a powerful entity. It would have been nice to sit within that fact for a bit longer before we jump headfirst back into the fire.
There is zero fat on the bone here as each page speaks directly to the larger picture. We do get a nice flashback to remind us of the love between these two and what is at stake here. Those moments ended up meaning more than I realized by the end.
I have enjoyed this series thus far but did feel like these issues tended to end before they got going. That very much switches up with this issue. With that quick pacing, so much room is covered as we gear up for the final act. I did not realize just how well this issue was constructed until the final moments.
When everything about this comic changed in a flash. It’s not often a comic that can surprise me to the level this issue did. Do you know the best / worst part? We won’t know what happens until the next issue. The wait is going to hurt, but I have faith it will be well worth it.
