ROOK: EXODUS #7 – New Comic Review

Rook Exodus #7, by Image Comics on 10/1/25, barrels back onto shelves as Rook rallies the surviving wardens for a last, desperate push to save Exodus.

Credits:

• Writer: Geoff Johns
• Artist: Jason Fabok
• Colorist: Brad Anderson
• Letterer: Rob Leigh
• Cover Artist: Jason Fabok, Brad Anderson (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: October 1, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 36
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of ROOK: EXODUS #7:

First Impressions:

The visuals yank you into the world and never let go, while the sheer scale of the action feels almost cinematic. Unfortunately, the narrative moves about as fast as a traffic jam on the Wildlife Grid. Just when the stakes should skyrocket post-hiatus, the plot settles for a round of catch-up.

Recap:

In Rook: Exodus #6, Ursaw was defeated after a violent spree that saw him hunting the wardens for their control-helmets, killing Rook’s friend Swine in the process. Rook barely escaped, joining forces with Dire Wolf and Carapace. They learned Better-World sent Ursaw to clean up loose ends, but their only hope of fixing the failing planet now rests on finding Bloodhound, Dire Wolf’s father, whose expertise is legendary but whose mind may be lost to the Wildlife Grid.

Plot Analysis:

Rook opens the issue scaling a frostbitten peak, intent on contacting Matterhorn, the hard-headed goat warden, to rally more allies for the mission to save Exodus. Still haunted by Swine’s death and dogged by Carapace’s skepticism, Rook’s internal monologue serves up both world-building and an emotional reset, recapping his migration to Exodus and the rise and fall of Better-World.

Rook finally locates Matterhorn, dodging her suspicions (and her goats), and struggles to persuade her to connect to Carapace and Dire Wolf through the all-important Wildlife Grid. Pumba, the boar left behind after Swine’s death, provides comic relief and a stubborn companion for Rook as he tries to build trust among the wardens.

Conversations snake back and forth, with Carapace grimly reinforcing the mission: reactivate the World Engine, build a coalition of wardens, and scavenge what’s left of Exodus. As technical headaches and mutual distrust bog down the mission, the drama gets more reflective than revelatory.

The issue closes with Dire Wolf in pursuit of Bloodhound, the one man who can fix the world, if he hasn’t slipped irretrievably into feral madness. Instead of breaking crucial new ground, the script mostly walks through emotional fallout and exposition, positioning the cast for whatever major payoffs might come next

Story

The writing is sharp, particularly in dialogue and character voice, but saddled with extensive recap and setup. Emotional introspection is well-drawn, especially Rook’s grief and grit, but momentum is sacrificed for backstory. The script leans heavily on exposition rather than pushing characters into bold new situations.

Art

This is the sort of art that launches a thousand double-takes. Jason Fabok delivers cinematic splash pages and crisp panel work, with Brad Anderson’s color palette adding visual muscle. The animal action and facial emoting are consistently jaw-dropping, creating a sense of scale and intensity that outmuscles the sometimes meandering script.

Characters

Rook gets the most development, torn between mourning and leadership. Matterhorn stands out as a stubborn new addition, and Pumba the boar is oddly endearing. Dire Wolf and Carapace mostly repeat their established beats, while Bloodhound lingers as a mythic off-screen presence, brimming with potential, but left untouched this round.

Positives

The art is a knockout in every sense: bombastic action, cinematic framing, and attention-grabbing creature designs make the book pop. Emotional nuances sneak in through expressive faces and dynamic animal encounters. The panel composition keeps tension humming, and the setting oozes world-building authenticity, highlighting a planet on the brink of collapse.

Negatives

For all its spectacle, this issue is pure narrative quicksand. There’s almost no plot progression and nary a wow moment in sight. The bulk of the pages feel like an extended “Previously, on…” reel, relying on reminders and emotional wheel-spinning rather than meaningful story movement. After a year-long hiatus, it’s a recap that stalls rather than sprints, leaving anticipation for future payoffs instead of rewards for the reader’s patience.

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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ROOK: EXODUS #7 is a master class in comic book visuals. Every page demands a double-take. But as a relaunch after a lengthy pause, it’s content to idle in recap mode, teasing at future greatness without ever hitting the gas. Here’s hoping the next issue brings the fireworks this world richly deserves.

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