Boom! Studios 2016
Written by Justin Jordan
Illustrated by Raul Trevino
Coloured by Juan Useche
Lettered by Jim Campbell
This is it the stunning conclusion to one of the most unexpected and powerful stories to hit stands this year. Danielle’s search for her father comes to an end and after last issue’s revelation that the children he has there are his army we can do nothing but watch as the final showdown with the Cartel gets underway.
As much as this is the final battle between them this also very much a show, theatre if you will where pomp and circumstance are as much in play as the violence and what it means are. They say you cannot fight violence with violence but when words do nothing what else is there to use? How do you clean up where you live and change the way things are done if not through a show of force? When your opponent doesn’t or won’t use words but intimidation and murder to get their own message across what courses are left for you to follow? It’s a thin line between love and hate and the stakes have never been higher.
Also as important is the fact the U.S. Government plays playground bully and thinks they have the right to intervene in these affairs. Yet both governments and the cartels all prosper from what happens regardless of how things are handled. Also how can you clean it all up if you're constantly looking over your shoulder at someone trying to proclaim they know how to do it better and ignore you. Justin manage to weave so many different points of view and messages into this four issue story. It’s crazy, scary and kind of completely on point with how different factions see their roles and the roles of others in all this.
Raul and Juan do some stunning work on the interiors as well. They manage to make this as dramatic, creepy and real as they possibly can. With the use of child soldiers decked out with their La Muerte face paint and bloodthirsty rage doing more than merely frightening the Cartel men. The use of page layouts through angles and perspective are handled extremely well. The attention to detail here is nicely done and overall the imagery is as savage as it is eerily mesmerising.
Danielle’s story isn’t over with this issue. She needs to go home and share this journey with everyone. Make them understand what happened and why and how to stay out of it. Though that won’t happen this will be seen as just another reason for the playground bully to intercede in some fight of righteousness. It’s a vicious cycle that seems to mimic the Ouroboros. But how does one enact real change when so many profit from the way things are? Who has the right to step in and try to change things? Can things change when cartels still exist and rule through fear and death?
Poignant, interesting and definitely thought provoking this is isn’t for the faint of heart or easily offended. It is however for anyone who wants to have their mind expanded.