The Symbiotes #4

[Craig Reade]

Symbiotes #4 (of 8 ) Gene Machine

Drive Comics - $2.95 Writer: David VonAllmen Art: George Lippert Additional Modeling and Compositing: Matt Metzker

Review:
Written by Craig Reade

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The halfway point of this groundbreaking title has arrived, and suddenly everything has become clear. I love it when a good story comes together like this.

I have been reading this title since the first issue, and though I have highly recommended it, something has always felt missing. The Symbiotes story was just so big that a lot of pieces had to be shuffled around before everything came together and seemed perfectly clear. No, I am not upset that this resolution didn’t come sooner – I was just anxious to see where all of the pieces fit together. And this issue finally puts everything in place.

Our “hero,” Khalid, having been rescued by the Symbiotes, is asked to join their group. They believe him to be the Abhi-es-Jhiv, the Hand of the Infinite, an almost messianic figure that is supposed to lead the way in the unification of the species. Khalid declines their invitation, and instead opts to return to the Human Empire, and eventually sets out to rescue his friend Gustav, who has been imprisoned for treason.

The recap may sound sparse, but that is with reason. A lot about the nature of the Symbiotes, and Khalid himself, is revealed in this issue, and I would hate to spoil anything for anyone. Suffice to say, if you had questions about where things fit in this title, everything is made perfectly clear for you here. This was the first issue where I didn’t have to concentrate and read extra careful to keep track of all of the different characters as a result, and that made an already outstanding book even better.

The art in this issue is as solid as ever, though it is a bit subdued in light of the dialogue-heavy story. There isn’t very much actual action in this issue, mostly conversations between groups of people, and the art is going to naturally suffer a bit as a result. We do get some power demonstrations in this issue which serves as a good showcase for the amazing CGI art, and the outdoor conversations provide a perfect opportunity to show off some “weather.” As usual, this issue is a treat to look at, which makes it an even better book.

Until this point, The Symbiotes to me was a visually stunning book that had the potential for a great story. That potential, I believe, has been realized this issue, and now it is just a matter of riding the wave to the shore. I know indie books are a challenge to find sometimes, but this one really is worth the effort. Plus you get 48 pages of brilliant, full-color art on some seriously high quality stock for under $3 – you really can’t find a deal like that anywhere else. Especially with Marvel’s cheapest produced books being raised to $2.99 an issue (a full four cents more expensive than The Symbiotes), it is great to see a publisher truly interested in giving you some bang for your buck.

For more information on the Symbiotes, feel free to check out Still on the Shelf #77, DriveComics.com, and TheSymbiotes.com. Order yourself a copy – this issue is well worth your time and money.

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Rating(out of 5):

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Marvel's cheepest comic prices ARE going up, but only to $2.50 per copy. Thought I'd let you know before you print it in your newletter
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