Quick recap: Blue Sun has its new generation of law enforcers that look and kind of sound like Mal. It’s probably worth pointing out that a private army to protect corporate interests seems like an awful idea. While these robots may look like Mal and sound like him, they’re clearly not acting like him at all.
Issue #22 is the sophomore issue of this arc, and its job is to bring the pieces closer to their conclusion. Mal is confronted with his present failure in a big way, since they seem to also outstrip his past successes. In light of all of this, a new plan is hatched, and the stakes seem to be higher than ever since they involve the lives of civilians.
Grek Pak’s narrative in this series so far just keeps striking me as so damn timely. It may seem dramatic to say so, but for a while now, the real world has seemed like the climax of a dystopian movie, and Pak’s scripts keep boiling down those abstractions into real-world scenarios for our Big Damn Heroes. #StoriesMatter because they so often allow the simple truths to rise above political ideology.
Lalit Kumar Sharma and Daniel Bayliss are on shared art duties again in this issue. Both get a chance to shine in their respective sections. A particular segment illustrated by Bayliss really brought a nostalgic smile to my face. (It’ll be immediately apparent to fans of the show.) Marcelo Costa’s colorwork continues to seamlessly complement the linework, contributing to the uniform look of the issue, despite the very different art styles. Jim Campbell’s lettering remains a consistent strong suit of the series, and his work does so much to bring the script to life.
Overall, with Blue Sun’s plan in motion, it’s time for the crew to come up with their own next moves. It’s time to show that no power in the ‘verse can stop this crew.
Creative Team: Greg Pak (writer), Lalit Kumar Sharma and Daniel Bayliss (art), Marcelo Costa (colors), Jim Campbell (letterer)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
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