PLAINER JANE #4, from Broken Face Comics on Kickstarter, finishes the job Jane started by taking out her next target. However, her excellent work is getting noticed, and her latest client is not who you would expect.
The Details
- Written By: David Wilburn
- Art By: Samir Simào
- Colors By: Ralf Singh
- Letters By: Tim West
- Cover Art By: Ralf Singh
- Cover Price: $12.37 (includes issues 1-5)
- Release Date: February 2022 (estimated)
Was It Good?
PLAINER JANE #4 is possibly the strongest intrigue issue with the largest scale in the series so far. In issue #3, we saw hints that Jane’s blossoming career as a contract killer could have implications in the broader crime underworld. Now, we see those hints bear dangerous fruit with surprising revelations.
There are two highlights in this issue that elevate it above the previous offerings in the series. First, we’ve been critical of Wilburn’s penchant for devoting too much page space to mundane conversations and pointless chit-chat, presumably to emphasize the mundaneness of Jane’s public life. Little reminders now and again help keep readers grounded in the contrast between what Jane does versus how she presents herself, but too much risks boredom. In this issue, the balance between the light and dark sides of Jane’s life is in balance, and this is a more compelling read.
Second, Jane’s career as a killer has been, up to this point, small. “Little” murders are presented as odd, random jobs with no consequence. Now, we get to see the consequences of killing a target with powerful allies and enemies, and how the dangerous side of Jane’s business has the potential for large conflicts later. This issue effectively transitions the arc from a personal story to something bigger and complex, increasing the stakes and curiosity for what’s to come.
This issue marks the introduction of a new artist to the title, Samir Simào, and the change in art style is noticeable but positive. Simào’s lines are cleaner and more refined, and the character designs are more detailed. The difference in art style between this issue and the previous issues isn’t huge, but it’s a noticeable improvement.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Jane has to make good on a delinquent contract. Find out how she missed the first time around in our PLAINER JANE #3 review.
We begin with Jane nudged out of sleeping in by her too-cheery and loving mother. Jane’s nighttime activities are taking a toll on her daytime schedule, but she’s managing. Later, her friends notice Jane is putting in an unusual amount of work ethic during her medical classes, especially lectures that explain different ways patients can die.
That night, Jane makes a second attempt at killing a local gangster to satisfy her latest contract. She succeeds, and the killing puts the police on high alert as the gangster’s death starts making the local gang leaders nervous about the possibility of a brewing war. Meanwhile, dissent grows among the police as gangsters killing each other potentially makes their job easier.
We conclude the issue with a surprising revelation about Jane’s repeat client, a tense meeting of gang leaders, and the suggestion that the hunter is about to be hunted.
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Final Thoughts
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PLAINER JANE #4 is a game-changer issue in the series as Jane’s career success makes her mark in the crime world. The scope and scale of the story feel bigger, Walden cuts down the mundane scenes to give more room to the central conflict, and the new artist brings a positive improvement to the visual style.
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