Hexed #4 – Review

Michael Alan Nelson (writer), Emma Rios (artist), Cris Peter (colors)

Before the Review :
If you haven’t been reading Hexed, you might want to. It’s about Lucy, a.k.a. Lucifer, a quick-on-her-feet cat burglar with a special trade. She only goes for things of supernatural interest, such as feathers of angel wings, or as the story goes, the Carasinth; a mystical artifact with deadly powers. Unfortunately, the squeeze is on, and her past has caught up to her.

The Story:
It’s the end of the road for Lucifer. Her employer and close friend are being held at gunpoint, and that son-of-a-gun Dietrich is looking to use the Carasinth to raise his standing in the world. She’s got to think fast, and outwit him before she and Val run out of time.

The Good :
Michael Alan Nelson puts together a nice, tight storyline and resolution for Hexed, which works by itself and within the larger story of Boom’s Cthulu Tales – the twists, turns, and pacing are present and solid. Emma Rios’ art has a wonderful motion and fluidity, and really brings the characters to life. The coloring, done by Cris Peter (is that his real name? If not, that’s fantastic!) brings a kind of tension to counteract the motion, helping make Hexed one of my favorite comics to look at.

The Bad:
Mostly, the fault lies with Michael Alan Nelson. The dialogue is fun and snappy, but can be just awkward enough to distract the reader from what’s going on. It’s simultaneously a strong and weak suit for him. Thankfully, the rest of his writing is pretty spot-on and fun, but that’s a glaring blemish that’s holding him back. As it stands, it’s keeping a good writer from being a great writer.

Grade : B+

-Brian Lynch