HEAT SEEKER: COMBUSTION #4, by Titan Comics on 3/19/25, brings the arc to a close with a death-defying chase in the skies to stop a madwoman from unleashing chemical death on London.
Credits:
- Writer: Charles Ardai
- Artist: Ace Continuado, Juan Castro
- Colorist: Asifur Rahman
- Letterer: David Leach
- Cover Artist: Ivan Tao (cover A)
- Publisher: Titan Comics
- Release Date: March 19, 2025
- Comic Rating: Mature (language, nudity)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of HEAT SEEKER: COMBUSTION #4:
Recap:
When we last left Dahlia in Heat Seeker: Combustion #3, all parties converged at the secret lab of an associate of Professor Preiss, who happens to be the real mastermind behind the weapons research. The mastermind’s next test, if successful, will be catastrophic.
Plot Analysis:
In Heat Seeker: Combustion #4, the tale of bioweapon terrorism comes to a close. Cutler takes Rosaline and two henchmen on a small plane bound for London. Why? If they release the bioweapon extracted from Rosaline’s blood over the city, everyone will turn to liquid goo within minutes.
Dahlia and Evie grab the nearest plane and give chase. Meanwhile, Cesar grabs an available car and races away to find Professor Preiss with the hope that the Professor will have an antidote. When Cesar reaches the Professor by phone, he explains he expected Cutler to pull a deadly stunt (because she’s crazy,) so he reversed the polarity of the bioweapon. Now, anyone who takes the “antidote” will be the only one to die when exposed to the gas.
The issue ends with Cutler and her henchmen getting a taste of their own medicine, an impressive display of aerial acrobatics, and a daughter’s emancipation.
First Impressions:
Heat Seeker: Combustion #4 works best if you don’t try to think about it too much. Charles Ardai created so many bait-and-switches that you’ll easily get lost in who or what is playing the Uno Reverse card on who. If all you’re expecting is for the good guys to save the day and for the hero to get naked, you’ll get what you expect.
Artwork and Presentation:
Ace Continuado and Juan Castro do a fine job of crafting a James Bond-style adventure story with a non-typical amount of gore when the bad guys melt into a goo. The action is energetic and fast-paced, which is a great way to cap the arc.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
High-pacing and energetic action win the day in Charles Ardai’s finale, sending Dahlia on a desperate chase to save the world. The finale leans heavily on a thrill ride of action to keep readers engaged.
The Negatives:
Talk about confusing. Charles Ardai tries to explain what’s happening in the same breath as what’s not happening, and the intricacies of the plot get so confusing that even the characters (e.g. Cesar) have trouble following what’s going on.
Final Thoughts:
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HEAT SEEKER: COMBUSTION #4 brings the arc to a close, with a fast-paced thrill ride in the skies to stop a mad scientist from unleashing a deadly bioweapon. Charles Ardai’s script gives you all the excitement you can handle in a death-defying race in the air. Sadly, the threat and the fix to the threat get so convoluted that even the characters get confused.
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