LADY HEL #4, from Dynamite Comics on December 21st, 2022, ends the arc with Lady Hel’s death at the hands of Persephone for the right to rule Helheim and Tartarus. But not all is as it seems.
The Details
- Written by: Erik Burnham
- Art by: Zhengis Tasbolatov
- Colors by: Salvatore Aiala
- Letters by: Dave Sharpe
- Cover art by: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: December 21, 2022
Is It Good?
Yes, this is good. LADY HEL #4 does exactly what a comic arc should do – end strong, grow the character(s), and establish a new status quo with limitless options to move forward.
The highlight of Erik Burnham’s script is the killer resolution to Lady Hel’s dilemma. How do you regain your seat of power when an equally powerful god cuts you down and your eternal, unkillable nemesis, Lady Demon, is on your opponent’s side? Burnham works it out with a clever twist that makes the outcome believable and establishes a new path for Lady Hel.
If you’re looking for a downside to the story, there really isn’t one. Burnham delivers an “All Hope is Lost” moment that comes right back with a big, satisfying wow moment in the climax. The pacing and dialog are spot-on, the action is rousing, and the ending sets up a promise for big things in the future.
Tasbolatov’s art is decent enough in this issue. The character designs, including Lady Hel’s upgraded look, are striking, the violence is brutal, and Aiala’s coloring work is excellent. The minor down point of the art is the lack of backgrounds, which gives the book a small feel.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our review of LADY HEL #3 review to find out how Persephone got the upper hand.
We begin with Persephone and Lady Demon standing over the lifeless body of Lady Hel. Now that the former god of death is gone, the power from dead souls quickly begins to flood into Helheim, granting Persephone their power as the new ruler. Lady Demon is ecstatic that her infinite rival is now gone.
Suddenly, the flow of power stops, and Persephone can feel her control over Helheim begin to quickly weaken. A flash of blue light illuminates the scene as a reconstituted Lady Hel, without her scars or face covering, arrives to reclaim her throne. The natural balance has been restored, thanks to her death at the hands of Persephone.
We conclude the issue with the death of another god, a very long punishment, and a merger.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
LADY HEL #4 ends the arc with a bang, a new look for the titular character, a new status quo, and an intriguing promise for more. The art is very good, and Burnham’s writing execution is excellent.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.