A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #4, from Mad Cave Studios on January 25th, 2023, finds Dr. Nick Shaw unnerved when his brush with the killer puts his colleagues on edge and the local sheriff on alert.
The Details
- Written by: Cullen Bunn
- Art by: Andrea Mutti
- Colors by: Andrea Mutti
- Letters by: Rus Wooton
- Cover art by: Andrea Mutti
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: January 25, 2023
Is It Good?
Things go from bad to worse in A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #4 as the serial killer’s exploits get increasingly painful and gruesome. Be warned. This issue isn’t for the weak-hearted.
If you’re a horror fan and like horror for its own sake. You’re going to love this issue. Cullen Bunn takes readers down dark, twisted, gruesome corners in the serial killer’s game. The tangible atmosphere of existential dread Nick experiences is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
The killer is playing with Nick by showing him bodies and suggesting his colleagues have been kidnapped, but the killer hides the details just enough to make the sheriff believe Nick is off his rocker or acting suspiciously. You can feel Nick start to unravel, and the unceasing vibe of madness is unsettling.
That said, the mild critique we flagged in the previous issue is starting to grow. This story, so far, is taking a very slow train to get going. The imagery is horrific, and the atmosphere is unbelievably oppressive, but the story falls short in the momentum department.
This may be the goriest issue yet, and Mutti revels in the grotesqueness of it all. Beads of sweat flow, blood splatter, and organs drape in obscene scenes. Again, if you like horror for its own sake, you’re going to love this issue.
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 A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #3 review to find out how Nick’s first meeting with the killer turned out.
We begin with Nick struggling through a sleepless night after encountering the killer and a dead body in an empty lot. Andrew hears Nick’s pacing and pays a visit to see how Nick is doing.
The next day, Andrew is reported missing. The Sherrif is already suspicious of Nick after investigating the empty lot and finding nothing, so Nick and Cayce decide to visit Andrew’s room on their own. They find Andrew’s room ransacked.
We conclude the issue with a second visit from the Sheriff, Andrew “helping” a patient, and an unusual seating arrangement.
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)
A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #4 leans heavily on the gore and unsettling atmosphere to make you feel uncomfortable in all the right ways. however, the plot takes a very slow train to get anywhere, imposing a need for patience some readers may not be willing to give.
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.