Extremity #4

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Colors: Mike Spicer
Letters: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics
 
The fourth issue of Extremity builds on the compelling depth, conflict and lore that the previous issues have expertly established, capturing a compelling forward momentum like lightning in a bottle in a near perfect issue.

It’s a rarity that I feel so invested in a series, especially emotionally, by the fourth issue. This issue’s opening few pages however, a beautiful, deep depiction of loss, loneliness and a touch of bitterness – a father and daughter mourning, awash in falling autumnal leaves brought to life by Spicer’s colors, delivers on and deserves that emotional response. It’s resonant, beautifully scripted and realized stuff that connects you ever-the-more to Thea and her father’s ill-advised quest.

The rest of the issue is equally well-scripted and realized, too. Spicer’s colors shine here, I’m frequently amazed at how well he combines palettes, bouncing between oranges, reds, blues and purples in equally stunning measure. It helps that Johnson gives him massive mantises and war-spiders to bring to life, combining their exquisite efforts to realize a cool, deep and diverse world of war, robots and beasts.

There’s the kind of extreme violence you should come to expect in Extremity later in this issue, sure, but there’s also narrative momentum that I’m intrigued and practically giddy to see followed up on in coming issues. Shiloh’s character and mysterious origin has so much potential and while we’re still getting steeped in mystery rather than answers, it moves forward in a way that I can’t help but be elated about.

Extremity is a complex, deep and fast-paced series that combines all its elements in a nearly perfect way. The fights are sometimes predictable, as they are in this issue, but they’re visceral, heavy and breathtakingly cool – things I feel about the series, this issue included.

Ultimately, this is highly recommended if not essential reading.