The quest for power is a dangerous thing, as Orpheus’ humiliating questioning of Romero’s leadership puts a target on her back. Fortunately for Orpheus, the ambush fails and she prepares to exact her revenge. Before she can do that, she/it/they discovers a plot to move a hidden shipment of humans. Who is behind it, and why, she has yet to discover.

Meanwhile, Virago has brought Frankie to a hideout where another child once lived. The creature’s possessive behavior makes it clear that whoever that child was, they meant a great deal to them. A moment of sentimentality may have saved Frankie, but how long will Virago protect him? Desperate to be free, the boy escapes, but he may have leapt from the frying pan into the fire.

This dark fantasy gets darker as it delves into how cruel and ruthless Orpheus can be. With monsters like clowns and a puppet-like creature called Mannegishi, the creatures become weirder and weirder. This issue focuses on Orpheus’ political and personal conflicts, which are interesting, but it forces Frankie’s storyline to be almost sidelined. You feel empathy for the kid, and I would like to know more about how he came to be where he is before being rescued by Virago. I suspect he has a terrific backstory which I don’t think we’ll have time for in this arc. Speaking of Virago, I really want to know why – among all the monsters – does he show compassion for Frankie? Who was the child he cared for and why? I hope some of these questions are answered in the final issue.

Once again, the art and lettering elevate the entire story by driving the action forward, adding emotional depth and giving us a unique world view. It’s definitely worth a read, especially the monster codex at the end of the book.

Creative Team: David Dastmalchian and Leah Kilpatrick (writers), Soo Lee (artist), Frank Cvetkovic (lettering)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Click here to purchase.