SCORCHED #20, from Image Comics on 7/26/23, finds Senator Terminus covertly instigating a civilian invasion of a New Mexico military base.
The Details
- Written by: Sean Lewis, Todd McFarlane
- Art by: Stephen Segovia
- Colors by: Ulises Arreola
- Letters by: AndWorld Design
- Cover art by: J.H. Williams (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $2.99
- Release date: July 26, 2023
Is It Good?
SCORCHED #20 brings the power blows and savage brawls to the fight against the Planet Eaters when Senator Terminus mesmerizes an angry mob into attacking a military base to instigate a catastrophic conflict. Liberally borrowing from the January 6th protests in Washington, D.C., Sean Lewis’s story brings an air of uncomfortable reality when the Scorched face an enemy bent on ending the world through true lies and fake news.
Yes, you read that right. Although no character says anything to outright reference the January 6th protests in Washington, D.C., the parallels are hard to miss. Whether or not that’s a turnoff for you is up to the individual reader, but you’ve been warned.
What’s great about this issue? The Scorched roll up their (figurative) sleeves and go toe-to-toe with Terminus to quell the protests and bring the Planet Eater down. If you like bare-knuckled Spawn brawling, you get it here, times four. As always, the art is outstanding, and the She-Spawn resurrection (hinted at in the last issue) sets up an intriguing mystery when Jessica pays her daughter an unsettling visit.
What’s not so great about this issue? The fight is great, but it’s a little frustrating in its conclusion because the Scorched doesn’t combine their powers to press the advantage when they have it. It’s like watching a low-rent martial arts film where the hero is surrounded, but the opponents only attack one at a time.
How’s the art? Again, it’s fantastic. Stephen Segovia is best known as a cover artist, but his internal pages are stellar in this issue. The panel compositions and layouts are visually intriguing, Segovia’s figure work and gestures are dynamic, and the big battles are power-packed. As a plus, kudos to Arreola for visually interesting backgrounds, even in the close-up panels.
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 SCORCHED #19 review to find out how Senator Terminus decided to go for the direct approach to ending the world.
We begin with a growing mob of protestors outside a New Mexico base. Senator Terminus’s disinformation campaigns have convinced the protestors that the base houses proof of unearthly life. Senator Terminus arrives in disguise and gives a mesmerizing rally speech about the government’s secret corrupt plans to maintain control by keeping citizens ignorant.
Inside the fences, military guards are ordered to use force to keep protestors outside the fence perimeter. When Terminus finishes his rallying speech, the entranced protestors charge the fence. Mayhem ensues.
Once the perimeter has fallen, Terminus calmly walks into the base to create more havoc. Suddenly, the Scorched arrives to quell the protestors and fight Terminus tooth and nail. We conclude the issue with big hits, big visions, and a different kind of scorched.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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SCORCHED #20 pits Scorched, toe-to-toe, against Terminus to stop a violent protest against a New Mexico military base. The art is fantastic, and the battle action is even better, but some readers may be put off by the overt allusions to the January 6th protests in Washington, DC.
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