MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #4, from Source Point Press on September 21st, 2022, concludes the arc with a battle to control the deadly heat ray that has the power to kill even the gods of old.
The Details
- Written By: Gregory Wright
- Art By: A. Shay Hahn
- Colors By: A. Shay Hahn
- Letters By: Justin Birch
- Cover Art By: A. Shay Hahn
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 21, 2022
Is It Good?
MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #4 brings the mummy family’s adventure to a close with a desperate battle between man, machines, monsters, and god. The action is creative, and the bond between the mummy family members is refreshingly genuine, but the scene transitions are rough. Let’s get into it.
Wright’s script focuses on Sir Nigel’s dastardly plan to wrest control of Samira’s deadly heat ray for himself. Wright captures a natural bond between Ramses, Tia, and Samira that feels endearing. When the heat ray is fully activated and the final battle kicks in, the action is chaotic and epic in scope. Finales are generally expected to pay off the build-up, and Wright successfully pays the arc off with a big bang.
However, there’s some bad with the good. The dialog is clunky. A prologue involving Dr. Frankenstein appears to have no bearing or purpose on the story. And the family’s escape from the underground tomb is awkwardly choreographed, especially in their emergence into the desert above. If you consider the general milestones of this issue, it’s a solid ending. If you pay attention to the specifics, the road from start to finish gets mighty bumpy.
Part of the awkwardness in the action could be due to the art as much as the script. The large action moments feel big, and the individual panels are generally good, but the transition from one panel to the next and one page to the next either skips a step in between or doesn’t make sense at all. Fortunately, Hahn’s outstanding coloring makes the visuals bold enough to hold a reader’s attention.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
To find out how the mummy family found themselves at the mercy of Sir Nigel, read our MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #3 review.
We begin with a prologue flashback where Sir Nigel offers the Book of the Dead to Dr. Frankenstein, believing the book to be worthless. Dr. Frankenstein doesn’t play a part in this issue and isn’t mentioned again.
Now, Sir Nigel threatens to destroy the mummy family if Samira doesn’t show him how to use her heat ray invention. She points the way to a crystal key hidden in her tomb. Sir Nigel uses the key to test the machine with devastating results. In the confusion of the first blast, Tia grabs the Book of the Dead and runs off with her father and mother close behind.
Sir Nigel chases the mummy family (when he already has what he wants?) with his robot soldiers in tow. Samira helps the family navigate a series of booby traps she designed, finally leading the family to the desert above.
We conclude the issue with a summoning, gods against machines, and the power of a bird.
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Final Thoughts
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MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #4 is a somewhat satisfying albeit unevenly executed end to the arc. The characters are endearing, and the family relationships feel genuine, but the clunky dialog and clumsy scene transitions make for a rough read.
Related Information
Why is it called mummy?
The word ‘mummy’ comes from the “Persian/Arabic word mummiya, meaning ‘tar’ or ‘bitumen’. When the Arabs encountered the Egyptian mummies in the seventh century CE they thought they were covered in tar. Although the Egyptians did occasionally use tar in the mummification process, most mummies were coated in dark resins, which gave the skin a black colour.” Source: AustralianMuseum.com
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