This issue is a bit more focused than the previous ones. Issues 1 and 2 each had several different plot threads that we alternated back and forth between, giving us a broad view of the world, its structure, and its characters. In this issue, we stick to just one thread—though everything is finally coming together, so we’re beginning to see how some of those other stories and characters fit into the big picture.

We open with a flashback to 11 years previous. Alona and Elan are a sister and brother who have just lost their parents. The government thanks them for their sacrifice and makes a paltry attempt to make amends, but as Natives, Elan and especially Alona are tired of governments stepping in and taking things from them—first the United States, then ©alifornia. As we follow their story, we see the beginnings of the underground resistance movement that we met in the previous issue and understand a bit more about how and why it was formed.

As we pick the story back up in the present, LB has been captured by the ©alifornia government and is now in position to enact the next part of the group’s plan. Only the government has plans of their own and at least a couple of tricks up their sleeve.

The end of the issue says, “To be concluded,” so I guess we’re almost done with the arc. Kind of a shame, as I’m really enjoying it, and there’s so much more that could be explored in the ©alifornia, Inc. dynamic. This has been an interesting and unique story all the way through, and a lot of fun. While I’m sad it’s ending, I’m also excited to see where the story goes from here and how things play out now that the threads are finally coming together.

Creative Team: Arthur N. Ebuen (writer), Dave Law (illustrator/colorist), Justin Giampaoli (editor), Frank Cvetkovic (letterer)
Publisher: Studio 12-7
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