The last issue of OOTIW was very introspective. The plot was minimal, but instead, it was all about Chuck and his motivations, as he wrestled with his decision to remain on his own and ultimately opted to try to catch up to the group he met previously.

This issue, on the other hand, is much more story-driven. Chuck catches up to the other kids fairly quickly, but then the question becomes: What do they do now? Up until this point, both Chuck and the group of kids have been living day to day, just trying to survive long enough to get the supplies they need which will help them survive a little longer. But what if there’s a more long-term solution? What if there’s a way they can be safe—not just survive, but live? Is it worth pursuing, or is it just a pipe dream?

This issue spends a lot more time in the real world, and a lot less time in Chuck’s fantasy space adventure. There are a few moments where he imagines himself as the daring hero, but now that he’s found people he can rely on in the real world, it seems like he doesn’t need the fantasy as much anymore.

Of course, the tradeoff is that now that Chuck is in a group, it’s not just him and his dog, Addie, making the decisions. He might think he knows the best course of action, but it’s not just about what he thinks. It’s about what the group thinks and what the group decides.

As for the fantasy element, the story’s not over yet, so we’ll see how much fantasy he needs in the next issue. Even though it’s gratifying to see Chuck find something worth living for in the real world, the fantasy world is fun to explore, and Addie’s personification in that world is still my favorite character.

Whatever happens, I’m loving this story and the characters, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Creative Team: Lee A. Carlisle (story), Ross Carlisle (art), Marina Gonçalves (colors), Marco Ventura (letters)
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