THE HEXILES #4, by Mad Cave Studios on 2/12/25, brings the Kreel siblings to Germany to fight the demonic hosts and free their souls. The mission gets off to a rough start.
Credits:
- Writer: Cullen Bunn
- Artist: Joe Bocardo
- Colorist: Manoli Martinez
- Letterer: El Torres
- Cover Artist: Joe Bocardo
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Release Date: February 12, 2025
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of THE HEXILES #4:
Recap:
When we last left the Kreel siblings in The Hexiles #3, we learned the disturbing nature of Jamison Kreel’s life. The would-be father sought wealth and power from the depths of Hell, but when the bill for his exploits came due, he swore to sell the souls of his future children to stave off damnation. The issue concluded with the remaining siblings swearing to destroy the demons looking to collect.
Plot Analysis:
In Hexiles #4, the Kreel siblings head to Germany to fight for the freedom of their souls. When the group arrives at the airport, they find a chauffeured car waiting for them, confirming they have no chance of a surprise attack.
The driver takes the group to an ominous castle on the outskirts of Freundlichkeit and ushers them inside. A priestess calling herself Nishay greets the group and does her best to reassure everyone that they’re guests in the castle.
Suddenly, the demonic shots appear and demand the Kreel souls in payment for their father’s gifts. However, the Kreels suspect the demonic hosts can’t claim what wasn’t fully their father’s to give, so the meeting ends in a tension-filled stalemate. Nishay leads the group to their rooms to rest and consider the possibility of power, wealth, and immortality if they surrender their souls willingly.
The issue ends with Jerold’s ghost appearing to warn the others of Nishay’s lies.
First Impressions:
The Hexiles #4 is… fine. Cullen Bunn’s first meeting between the Kreels and the demonic hosts has a mild atmosphere of tension that works in the story’s favor, but the tepid pace and lack of memorable moments hold the issue back.
Artwork and Presentation:
Joe Bocardo’s creepy, rough (in a good way), gory art is the saving grace of this series. Bocardo makes excellent use of shadows to amp up the drama. The demons are intimidatingly grotesque, and the brief bit of horror action is sickening (again, in a good way).
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Cullen Bunn brings the Kreel siblings into the proverbial lion’s den, so the setup is tension- and drama-filled from page one. The stalemate between the Kreels and the demonic hosts is a well-done game of cat-and-mouse that gives you plenty of material to consider in anticipation of the next issue.
The Negatives:
According to the solicit information, The Hexiles #4 is supposed to be the fourth issue in a 6-part miniseries, which means there’s a lot of story to tell and only two issues left to do it. You can’t help but assume that Bunn’s relaxed pacing will either result in a rushed finale or doesn’t conclude the story fully. Either way, the story takes too much time on pleasantries and character building.
Final Thoughts:
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THE HEXILES #4 sends the Kreel siblings to Germany to confront the demonic hosts. Cullen Bunn’s script builds believable, authentic characters to set the stage for the battle to come, but Bunn’s overly relaxed pacing kills any sense of thematic drama or urgency.
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