Review: Severed #4

What is it about horror stories that has that one characterthat can save everyone from a bad situation, but they make the most irrational decision possibleand go completely against their nature? I don’t know the answer since and I’mnot going to pretend that I understand why the horror genre is the only onesubjected to this character “glitch”, but I will say that Severed unfortunately suffers from it.

This book has some major plot details that are spread throughoutthe entire issue and it makes it really hard to talk about it without spoiling the story.I will not spoil the book for you, but because of that I will have to talk in very vague terms. After the lastissue, Sam is very un-trusting of their new friend and frankly she has everyright to be since he’s a kid killing monster. She checks up on him and reveals herdoubts to Jack, who frankly is too dense to get her rational thinking. The twoof them fight and basically have that scene in which they say everything thatthe audience has been thinking, but that the characters were too polite to sayto one another. Afterwards they make up, but by doing so they seal their fate.That’s about all I can say really.

Let me get the good out of the way first. The art is stillsomething special and is as strong as it was from the first issue. Artist AttilaFutaki has a marvelous style that is perfect for horror and the period the story is set in. The art isunchanged by the story, which is a good thing. The story on the other hand wasfrustrating. Now I’m not one to whine and complain when a story does somethingI don’t like or character does the opposite of what I think will happen. Infact I love to be pissed off by a story when it emerges me so much that I feeldeep emotions when things don’t go the way I want them to. It shows the qualityand skill of the writing to make you love and hate something at the same time.That being said I was frustrated by this issue for another reason altogether.

I absolutely do not like it when a the smartest character inthe book that’s kept others from making mistakes, makes the biggest mistake ofthem all. What’s worse is that in this issue it’s just to prove themselvesright since they were already free of the situation they felt stuck in before.I can’t say that I’ll be back for the next issue, I think that my journey endsright here. The writers of the book said from the beginning that they wanted asense of dread and suspense to flow throughout the book and to be honestthey were doing a fantastic job until this issue. The sense of dread, thedanger is gone and regardless if the story ends with a happy ending it will nothave the same meaning as it once did. Others may read this book and think thatit’s great and if you want more details from me after reading it for yourself,head back here and I’ll tell you why this issue broke the “rules” of its own storyand thus left me the reader alienated.

Score: 1/5

Comments

[Ssnyder1835]

Hey Dustin - sorry it didn't do it for you, but really appreciate the read. S

[Dustin]

Thanks for the comment and checking out the review. Maybe someone will talk me into the next issue and I'll check it out again.

[komi]

Dustin you have to check it out at least for Attila's artwork :)