THE SACRIFICERS #10, by Image Comics on 7/24/24, finds Soluna enduring the harsh realities of being mortal when she enters a town looking for food and shelter. Sadly, her unwelcome visit also brings death.
Credits:
- Writer: Rick Remender
- Artist: André Lima Araújo
- Colorist: Dave McCaig
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: André Lima Araújo, Dave McCaig
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: July 24, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of THE SACRIFICERS #10:
First Impressions:
Rick Remender’s tale continues to maintain the highest quality of storytelling around, with impactful moments of emotion, tragic developments packed with meaning, and super-strong art. That said, the plot’s pace slows down in this issue, so the urgent momentum from the first arc leaves you feeling like this issue is slightly lacking. Just a smidge.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Pigeon in The Sacrificers #9, Pigeon assumed a new role as a warrior, and his first stop was to face off against the god of the tides, Aquatica. The titanic battle ended in death for Aqautica and his consort, Luroxum.
In The Sacrificers #10, we catch up with a severely weakened Soluna after she was infected with a sentient black goo in issue #8. She enters a small town looking for refuge from the wintery weather and hopefully some food. Through the narration, we learn Soluna is experiencing a series of firsts – the first time feeling hungry, the first time feeling the aches of exertion, and the first time feeling cold.
Rick Rememder sets up Soluna’s plight beautifully. As a princess of the gods, she’s never known want or discomfort, so her present predicaments are a harsh lesson in never taking the privileges of birth or family for granted.
In her desperation, Soluna begs at every establishment that has food. The locals shun her and turn her away without pity. Finally, the bake sends her to the local church, where a priest of Rokos may take pity on her. Soluna finds the church, but the priest casts Soluna out for the blasphemy of claiming to be the real Soluna. Without options, Soluna catches and eats a rat before sleeping in a nondescript doorway on the street.
How low can you go? Remender drags Soluna to the depths of hopelessness when she’s forced to endure the worst poverty and destitution possible. You can’t help but feel some sympathy for her while acknowledging that Soluna is reaping the consequences of her father’s actions.
The next morning, Soluna remains in the doorway and begs with an empty cup. The local constable spots Soluna and tries to arrest her, forcing Soluna to flee. She hides in a barn and settles into a pig pen for warmth and rest by a pair of sleeping pigs. While she sleeps, the black goo slithers out of Soluna’s mouth and visits a deadly plague on the entire village.
We conclude the issue with a gruesome discovery, overwhelming guilt, and an unexpected helping hand.
Overall, The Sacrificers #10 is another fantastic issue in a fantastic fantasy series by Rick Remender. Soluna gets put through the wringer in the worst way, which plays on the reader’s sympathies and sense of schadenfreude with equal impact.
Artwork and Presentation:
André Lima Araújo steps in as the guest artist for Max Fiumara, and I’m happy to report that the differences in styles are noticeable but not large enough to affect the quality of the story at all. Araújo captures the same whimsical figure work as Fiumara, maybe with slightly less whimsy, and the emotional acting of the characters is outstanding.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
The Sacrificers #10 continues Soluna’s journey since fleeing her father’s protection, but Pigeon’s quest for death and revenge isn’t mentioned or referenced at all in this issue. If you want to see who’s next on Pigeon the god killer’s hit list, you’ll have to wait until the next issue.
Final Thoughts:
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THE SACRIFICERS #10 pauses Pigeon’s rage-filled journey for revenge and catches up with Soluna, experiencing mortal discomforts for the first time. Remender creates an entire issue to heap pain, misery, and guilt on the daughter of a god to great effect, and Araújo’s guest artwork is excellent.
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