Copra #4 Review

Written, penciled, inked, colored, and lettered by: Michel Fiffe
Published by: Image Comics

Lloyd wants answers. Can Sonia talk her way out of this one? Find out in – Copra #4.

After the threats of the first three issues have been effectively wrapped up, this issue seems to be a coalescing of the standing Copra members. With the beginning leading from the cliffhanger of #3, we’re shown exactly why Sonia is so effective at her job of wrangling in these powerful individuals. She handles Lloyd expertly and keeps her head (both literally and figuratively). As seen in earlier issues, when the time is there Michel Fiffe will use it to show character interactions. Since this issue is all about the team finally having time to breathe, it’s inherently also about character interactions. That leads to a nice string of scenes that feel like little vignettes. Each one is able to do multiple things such as flesh out personalities and relationships or give needed background information and exposition. And, each scene does it, for the most part, naturally (and often with a dose of humor). There are some small moments where the intention in the writing is clear, but not noticeable enough to take away from the comic. After these scenes of establishing, exploring, and defining the Copra team, the last portion of the comic features the next mission being expressly set-up. This is essentially an exposition dump, but, being a mission briefing, it is understandable for the world of Copra. Guthie explains her past and why it's about to be an issue for the team. Since the first three issues were dealing with tying up loose ends from the earlier, pre-Image, days of Copra, this next stage seems like it could be the beginning of the first “real” storyline for this series. I feel the next issue is where this series could prove itself. Especially, since the last page seems to show that the trouble Guthie warned about is already on its way.

In a, all things considered, slow issue, the execution is what held it up. Fiffe makes all aspects of this comic a joy to look at. If he can draw something different than anyone else would think to, he does; he deserves his moniker as an auteur. He displayed the scattering thoughts of Sonia in a way that made it intuitive to read. The thought-to-dialogue bubbles he has been using is a great device. The art in the Lloyd v Sonia scene, like the Sonia scenes in earlier issues, have neater lines and layouts. Little things like the shot of Burger whimpering are artistic choices he does because he wants to, but they, in turn, keep the flow of the book. His touches like Rax’s suit’s power rays changing when he’s thinking, or the music notes being visible in the scene with Changó and Patrick, or the way the lettering goes under the occultists’ fire ring add so much while doing seemingly so little because it keeps everything feeling like it’s in the same cool comic book-y atmosphere, one that Fiffe himself has defined. His colors are something I’m starting to get new respect for. The way he lightly brushes them is so visually pleasing, and then he’ll drench an element or background in a color.  The last part of this issue was the best, or “most fun”, to look at for me. When Sonia and Guthie are giving heaps of information, it is kept engrossing with the illustrations that show the past. A nice art style is used and a soft palette. The group shot with all the members was great and got me psyched to see the team in action. And, the little portraits of the members done at the top of the last few pages were fun touches. Those are the type of pieces of flairs that shows Fiffe is having fun making this comic, and that then makes it a fun comic to read. But, it is the last page that I feel you could show to someone who hasn’t read this comic and display the creativity within it.

Copra #4 is the build to the next stage for the team. With their sights on the new mission, they now understand what their goal is. Fiffe is keeping the comic rolling by expressing the story with visuals you will find in no other comic. And, it seems that after this issue the definitive period of this series will be starting.