Zenescope Entertainment 2016
Written by Ralph Tedesco
Penciled by Antonio Bifulco
Inked by Alex Rivera, Antonio Bifulco & Jacob Bear
Coloured by Erick Arciniega
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Mercy learns that she’s not the only “hunter” in Lucifer’s employ, a fact she’s not happy was kept from her for so long. Further, Mercy’s recurring nightmares are beginning to affect her emotional well-being as the guilt from her past continues to haunt her. Meanwhile, Raum sends some men to Virgil’s in order to find out exactly who’s been spying on him, and Virgil opts to take a spill over the balcony rather than give up information to Raum’s henchman.
This issue picks up with Virgil on the street and Frank gets a call from an informant about what’s happened. I was mixed about how I felt about Frank and Mercy’s relationship but after this issue I’ve got to say that they really make this good team. Perhaps they need to go hunting together more often because like or not they actually kind of need each other and learn from each other. Ralph’s writing here as the story unfolds and his characterization has been incredibly good.
When we first see Raum again this issue and he’s surrounded by naked men hanging around in chains it’s incredibly dominatrix erotic to be honest. I know what he does with them, he needs them to feed himself and keep his level powers up. So it’s an absolute incredible scene that speaks so much about him, who he is and what he’s about. I think the placement of it in the story was great.
With everything that Mercy goes through and learns this issue and her relationship with Masumi and Frank she’s got more potential and chutzpah than she realizes. Even with her crazy dreams and the desire she’s got to set her past right she’s completely evolving as a character and it’s great to see. I couldn’t be more impressed with what Ralph’s doing with her in this story. This is the kind of storytelling and characterization that I like to see and keeps the company in a more story driven direction. Fleshing out these wonderful characters has been a joy to see.
The interior artwork has been good. I like the way the story flows through the pages and panels. The consistency in Frank’s face has been much better. While I understand that male nudity is tended to be frowned upon the page of them tied up in chains is still very provocative and well done. The chamber is a nice bit of technology and then the way Raum’s transformation into his more true form is being handled delightfully.
This is what we need from Mercy Dante and company. It’s got style, class, rhythm and a lot of action and adventure. With a solid story behind it and a mission to do that they may or may not succeed at looming this is more than a solid offering.