END OF LIFE #8 – Hostile Environment

Creative Team – Kyle Starks, Steve Pugh, Chris O’Halloran, Becca Carey, Gerald Parel

Published by DC Comics

Catch up with End of Life #7 here!

The Story

Eddie is still being held hostage by Neils and Rumplemindt and he’s slowly realizing that these are two of the most unhinged killers he’s ever met. With their creative take on torture, Eddie is constantly surprised by how far they’re going to go. In the last issue of End of Life, Eddie was joined by another hostage named Little Cock who was out for his blood for what he did to his mentor, Big Cock. Fortunately for Eddie, Rumplemindt and Neils have plenty of sadistic games to go around.

While this is all taking place, Eddie’s dad, George is in the hospital after he collapsed. George makes it clear that he doesn’t want Eddie called as his son doesn’t care about anyone but himself. So, Eddie is fighting for his life while George is in a fight of his own.

Kyle Starks gives us an interesting balance of the energetic chaos that Eddie finds himself in while juxtaposing the quiet fight that George is in. There’s also the looming feeling as the reader of knowing that the two don’t know that the other is struggling and can die at any moment. Starks does an incredible job at keeping this fact in the back of your mind while you see George in the hospital or when Eddie is fighting to stay alive. End of Life #8 ends on a very surprising note that I certainly didn’t see coming, but makes me very excited for the next issue!

The Art

End of Life #8 had a huge difference in tones and the artists did a beautiful job at capturing that. With the huge changes from George in the hospital to Eddie in the midst of chaos, you’re able to feel the differences and the parallels beautifully.

Steve Pugh captures the heightened emotions perfectly. In this comic run, something I’ve really appreciated that Pugh does is allow the character’s facial expressions to do the talking and that’s very clear in this issue. With the violence that Eddie and Little Cock endure, the chaotic tones are felt very easily.

Chris O’Halloran works really well off the scene changes between Eddie and George with the hospital setting versus Eddie’s hostage location. I also really love how O’Halloran brings vibrancy to the violence, highlighting the big hits or the peak of pain within the fight. Becca Carey does a fantastic job at creating a flow of dialogue that’s even and also puts the emotions of the characters on center stage.

Final Thoughts

End of Life #8 continues the wonderfully high quality that’s been consistently shown throughout this run. This issue does a fantastic job at keeping you on the edge of your seat and wanting to flip the page to find out what happens next.

Overall Grade – 9/10

Let me know in the comments what you thought of this issue!

This review was written by Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast. If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of End of Life #8, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!