Dark Horse Comics 2014
Written by Donny Cates
Illustrated by Daniel Warren
Coloured by Lauren Affe
Trace and Beth find the headquarters of the Santos, but no sign of the truck. Incensed after finding the dead body of his dog Axl, Trace tortures a lone gang member into divulging where the gang planned to sell off the big rig. In a remote oil field, Trace, Beth, and the Santos are intercepted by Mickey Reno, who helps them defeat the bikers and reveals that he was only there to locate and protect Trace. Just then, a huge carrier plane lands, and out steps Ward . . .
Damn this is one hell of a story and it keeps getting more intense with each new issue that I read. This one is full of revelations, such as what’s in the truck Trace took and seeing both Ward and Beth’s reactions throughout this issue has been amazing to see. Not only that but Mickey is spectacular himself and what we see of him makes me want to see a four issue mini-series focusing on him alone! This really has gone around the bend on what I thought it was into something completely different and Donny has remarkably been able to surprise me each month.
We’ve known something mysterious was up, I mean we’ve seen the Cabal meeting in that room in those robes like some sort of cult or secret order but we never did get much of an explanation of what they were all about. The Ghost Fleet transports things of an unknown nature for them and since Trace was shot in the head by Wade and then subsequently stole a rig we’ve really not been privy to what’s inside. Yes we say Trace have that encounter that seemed like an acid trip of a ghostly nature but at the time that seemed an oddity. So with this seventh issue we finally get a closer look at what’s really going on here.
Can I just say i’m enamored and infatuated with Mickey and his shirt-tales shirt! He’s kind of trashy, kind of cool and a complete out for himself dirtbag to make him extremely valuable as an ally or formidable as an enemy plus there’s the whole attracted to a bad boy aspect about him that has such appeal. Oh he betrays everyone this issue and makes good on an escape and if it’s in his best interest and not just by rooting for these guys I hope he helps Trace out in some way before this is all over.
Donny is amazing because the revelations are massive and the reactions and actions taken by Trace and Wade leave Beth in a state and her ponderings are perfect! Her little moments of seeing what’s happening and reacting are priceless, for everything else there’s Mastercard. Plus there’s action galore and a scene that could or should have happened in the Fast and Furious franchise so there’s so much different stuff happening here that blends together in such a way that you almost don’t think should work but is nonetheless captivating.
Visually this is pretty impactful as well and with the revelations the visual component is highly important for telling the story and they do such a great job on them. Blood and violence are done without excess gore which is always a bonus and the transformations that take place need to be seen to be believed. This is why we love the industry because the twists, turns and excitement we get from this story continually surprises the reader in the best possible ways.