Rebel Blood #3 – Review
Written by: Riley Rossmo (plot) and Alex Link (plot and script)
Art by: Riley Rossmo
Colours by: Riley Rossmo and Kelly Tindall (assists)
Letters by: Kelly Tindall
Cover by: Riley Rossmo
Published by: Image/Shadowline
Cover Price: $3.50 (USD)
Rebel Blood has been a very good zombie/horror comic and what I like most about it from a storytelling perspective is that it offers virtually no hope to protagonist Chuck or those that he cares about. Though I wouldn’t want to pre-empt the events of the final issue, what has come so far suggests an even darker and bloodier finale for Chuck and his family.
But back to this issue, Chuck’s journey is still relentlessly dangerous and terrifying. He is isolated and alone and everyone and everything from human babies to rabbits are after him. The zombie baby is one of the creepiest things I have ever seen in comics; Rossmo’s ability to draw shocking and frightening things is certainly not waning.
Along with the horror and gore, there are a couple more glimpses into Chuck’s past this issue which expand and enrich the character. It doesn’t make the story any happier, which I like, but makes Chuck’s situation more tragic.
I am rooting for Chuck in a way, but also feel that the only thing that can derail this series and bring down the quality is a happy ending. I’m looking forward to next issue, but I want to feel thoroughly depressed when I have finished.
8/10
Rebel Blood #4 – Review
Written by: Riley Rossmo (plot) and Alex Link (plot and script)
Art by: Riley Rossmo
Colours by: Riley Rossmo and Kelly Tindall (assists)
Letters by: Kelly Tindall
Cover by: Riley Rossmo
Published by: Image/Shadowline
Cover Price: $3.50 (USD)
If you read my review of issue three (and you should have, it’s just up the page) then you’ll know that I was hoping for an ending that stayed true to the tone of the rest of the mini-series. It’s a little strange to want an unhappy ending, but that is what I wanted.
After now having finishing Rebel Blood I can confidently say, without spoiling anything, that the ending is not happy. I was expecting this final issue to be good, but I was surprised at just how good it is.
It’s hard to review a final issue without spoilers, so I’ll just say that there are some unexpected and dark twists that leave the story far more open to questioning than previous issues. As Chuck returns to his family and the small town they live in, the focus shifts away from him a little and the arrival of extra characters allows for a more complete picture of the world Chuck has been living in.
This issue is also Rossmo’s strongest on the art side too. Though Chuck is out of the forest and away from the danger of the animals, the most horrifying moments are in this finale. Rossmo has to draw some difficult scenes, but none of them seem exploitative or unnecessary.
Link and Rossmo have done a great job throughout, turning what seemed like a relatively straightforward horror comic into something more. Packed full of gruesome and interesting ideas and ending with confidence and mystery, Rebel Blood is another hit for Image.
9/10
