BARBARELLA: THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD #4, from Dynamite Comics on 5/31/23, brings Barbarella and her allies face-to-face with the Architects’ hated enemy – the Unnameable.
The Details
- Written by: Sarah Hoyt
- Art by: Riccardo Bogani
- Colors by: Werner Sanchez
- Letters by: Carlos M. Mangual
- Cover art by: Derrick Chew (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: May 31, 2023
Is It Good?
Well, BARBARELLA: THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD #4 is certainly different and probably not at all what anyone would have expected. On sheer creative surprise factor alone, Sarah Hoyt deserves praise for taking Barbarella beyond the limits of the universe.
When last we left Barbarella and her friends, they narrowly escaped the Architects’ stronghold with Vix and TALN in an unexpected mind link, taking Durix as a hostage for good measure. Now, TALN does the unthinkable to extract the Architects’ plan from Durix, sending the cre on a mission to seek out the Unnameable.
Again, this issue goes to unexpected places you’d never suspect. Creatively, it’s a good thing when a writer executes a well-written surprise. The very nature of the Unnameable turns the idea of Creation on its head, and Barbarella (using her unique methods of diplomacy) puts the pieces together to make peace, impart lessons, and devise a plan to stop a universe-spanning war. It’s fair to say Hoyt elevates Barbarella’s hero status in this issue due to pure courage if nothing else.
Is there a down point to this issue? Honestly, no. All the standard writing points are there, including interesting, albeit weird, plot development, good dialog, good pacing, and an intriguing cliffhanger to end the issue.
How’s the art? This issue is some of the best work Bogani has delivered in this run to date. Without spoiling the Unnameable here (read through to the next section if you want details), Bogani has an opportunity to reshape the entire universe, and it works out pretty well. The line work is precise and clean, the design of “everything” looks fantastic, and Sanchez’s colors are beautiful.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our BARBARELLA: THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD #3 review to find out how Vix escaped torture.
We begin with Barbarella pleading with TALN aboard Jack’s ship not to torture Drix to extract information. TALN ignores Barbarella’s pleas but does something unexpected – he uses the mind probe device the Architects used on Vix to link minds with Durix. The process is painful, but TALN retrieves enough details about the ARchitects’ plan to know where to find the Unnameable.
TALN reworks the navigation system in Jack’s ship to fold time and space to meet the Unnameable in hopes of stopping the coming war. When the ship arrives, the crew sees nothing but darkness and a universe devoid of light or matter. Suddenly, a gigantic hand reaches out and plucks Jack’s ship from the void.
We conclude the issue with new life, new love, and a garden.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BARBARELLA: THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD #4 brings Barbarella and her friends to the doorstep of the Unnameable for a confrontation you won’t see coming. The story is imaginative, and the art looks great, so if you like sci-fi that isn’t afraid to get weird, you’re in for a good time.
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