Friday, February 21, 2014

Review- FATALE: BOOK FOUR- PRAY FOR RAIN


FATALE: BOOK FOUR- PRAY FOR RAIN (Image, 2014; Softcover)

Collects Fatale Nos. 15-19 (cover dates June, 2013- January, 2014)

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artist: Sean Phillips

Colorist: Elizabeth Breitweiser

Book four of Fatale finds Josephine in Seattle of the 1990s, where she has a run in with a one hit wonder band in a post-Kurt Cobain world named Amsterdam. I was “of age” during that era but have no nostalgia for that world. Still, the notion of a band being in the right place at the right time and being left out to dry rings true. I can name dozens of bands that seemed to come out of nowhere, sell millions of albums seemingly overnight, and couldn't even get arrested today. None of those bands had the misfortune of encountering Jo, though. There are women who drive men crazy, and then there are women who drive men to this. All ages reading this is not. 


If you like crime comics, if you like horror comics, or if you just like good comic books period, then this is for you. Fatale and a handful of other great titles currently being produced give me great hope for the future of the medium.

The team of Brubaker and Phillips has recently signed a five year deal with Image, which means that we will be getting boatloads of goodness for years to come. I couldn't be happier. Whether we get five more years of Fatale or other things is anyone's guess, but these cats get a free pass and are an automatic buy for me. If you haven't picked this series up yet, the first three books are all still available, and there is a deluxe hardcover coming out shortly which will compile the first two trades. Since I hate my money almost as much as I love high end hardcovers, I will of course be double dipping. Kill me now.
Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5. 


The OCD zone- Image makes nice quality books.

The covers are collected in a gallery in the back of the book rather than at their proper chapter marker places. This is a huge point of debate in collected edition circles. Some people like them in the back, others, like myself, do not. Your mileage may vary. As is always the case with my Consumer Reports style reporting, I merely present the facts about production values of these books so that you may make an informed decision for yourself.

The Ghost variant for #15 is not included in this book's cover gallery.

DVD-style Extras included in this book: None.

Paper rating: 5 out of 5. Decent weight coated stock paper with a slight sheen. It photographed poorly but looks great. In all honesty I have been sick as Hell with a wicked sinus infection this week and took those pictures in a dimly lit room while in a Sudafed haze.

Binding rating: 4 out of 5. Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover coating rating: 5 out of 5. High quality thick lamination which will provide years of enjoyment when handled with reasonable care.


http://www.instocktrades.com/TP/Image/FATALE-TP-VOL-04-PRAY-FOR-RAIN-%28MR%29/OCT130469

3 comments:

  1. You just made me decide to binge-read FATALE books 3 & 4 sometime next week. I really enjoyed the first two, as I've enjoyed mostly everything that Brubaker & Phillips have done together. They're really an amazing team.
    I hope you get over the sinus infection quickly. I used to be prone to constant, lingering sinus infections, but after I was diagnosed with Diabetes and got my sugars under control, they stopped, thank goodness. You have my sympathies....sinus infections are just the worst.

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  2. The next arc of Fatale will be the las (#24 is the final issue) t, but Brubaker and Phillips are apparently already working on their follow up, though.

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    1. Sad to hear that FATALE is coming to an end, but I'm eager to see how they wrap it up. All good things must come to an end, I guess.

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