Comic Review: Mosely #4 (BOOM! Studios)

Synopsis: Mosely sets his sights on the Triad, bringing the fight to them. But little does he know the kind of dangers that wait for him. Meanwhile, Ruby discovers a horrible truth that questions her allegiance with the Triad. Will Mosely prevent the Triad from initiating its final plans against humanity? Can Mosely survive long enough to save Ruby? Can Gloria amass an army in time to assist Mosely?  Is humanity willing to save itself?

Although this series was always about man versus machine and man versus self, it still took me by surprise as to what the ultimate goal that the city aimed to achieve, or at least what the antagonist, Atum is attempting to achieve. Guillory introduced a different way in which an artificial antagonist can terrify that is uniquely different despite similarities to things seen in The Matrix and other sci-fi of the cyberpunk variety. What makes this issue great is Guillory explores the fallout of Mosely’s family and how it contributed to the Triad’s existence. Guillory brilliantly parallels such events together and displays the consequences that drove Mosely’s circumstances to the terrifying heights that he must overcome. The story is well-paced, and characters get little moments in the midst of all the action that occurs throughout.

Sam Lotfi continues to display his skills as an illustrator by crafting dynamic action set pieces, and page layouts that are purposeful and energetic. Due to his stylistic art, and visual narrative abilities, there is substance to his style that is akin to Bruce Timm in regards to having the right balance of flair and narrative ability. While Lotfi’s art is effective, Beaulieu’s color work on Lotfi’s illustrations accomplishes the kind of tone that Guillory’s writing requires in order to sell the stakes that occur within the book. Andrew Thomas does a fantastic job lettering the comic, giving characters a distinct voice that compliments what occurs within the art and pages of the book. A solid issue for this series that is worth picking up for new comic book day.