TOXX #4, by Blood Moon Comics on 10/18/23, offers Claire a glimmer of hope before snatching it all away when the Damned Boys and the Mutants run face-first into the Peace Train.
The Details
- Written by: Eric Palicki, Evan Carothers
- Art by: Ben Worrell
- Colors by: Damir Rosic
- Letters by: Evan Carothers
- Cover art by: Brian Demarest (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: October 18, 2023
Is TOXX #4 Good?
Well, Claire thought she had a free ticket to paradise until it all went wrong. In TOXX #4, Claire’s capture by Desmond and the Damned Boys takes more twists and turns than a Texas rattlesnake in Eric Palicki and Evan Carothers’s latest chapter.
When last we left Claire and Brody, Hux was killed during the scuffle between the mutants and the Damned Boys, with Claire and her baby as the prize. The Damned Boys got away with Claire and Brody in chains. Now, the mutants saddle up in hot pursuit, catching up to the Damned Boys in record time. When Clair makes a reckless move to escape her captors, her gamble pays off just in time for the mythical Peace Train to make an appearance. But Claire’s chance at refuge doesn’t last long.
Of all the issues in this mini-series, TOXX #4 is the most action-packed, with nods to post-apocalyptic action films such as The Road Warrior (1981). Mutant horses, cobbled-together super vehicles, and big shootouts abound.
What’s great about TOXX #4? If you like wall-to-wall post-apocalyptic action in the desert, you’re in for a treat. When you have three competing forces vying for Claire and Brody, and they’re willing to kill to get what they want, you’ve got a perfect storm of action.
What’s not so great about TOXX #4? The Peace Train’s arrival should be a wow moment, and it is, but it’s surprising/perplexing how poorly the Peace Train is able to defend itself against an assault. You’d think a traveling caravan with resources and supplies would be under constant threat, so to be redirected by a single man with a shotgun comes across as silly.
How’s the art? The art’s above average for an indie comic. This issue brings Damir Rosic on board as the new colorist, and the colors look fantastic. In an action-heavy issue, the burden is on the art team to convey energy and movement in every panel, and they pull it off.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s TOXX #4 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our TOXX #3 review to find out how Hux made the ultimate sacrifice.
We begin with Desmond and the Damned Boys riding off on their four-runners with Claire and Brody in chains. The mutants refuse to give up their meal so easily, so they give chase on mutant horses. Desmond feels confident the mutants won’t catch up, but Claire isn’t taking any chances, so she signals for Brody to jump.
Desmond orders the Damned Boys to provide cover against the quickly-approaching mutants while he goes after Claire and Brody on foot. Desmond catches up to the fugitives, but Brody leaps to attack. Just when Brody appears to be losing, the fighters hear a growing rumble. The Peace Train has arrived on Hux’s signal. Claire and Brody sprint to the caravan and leap for helping hands.
We conclude the issue with a persistent threat, unbelievably effective gunfire, and a survivor.
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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TOXX #4 piles on the action set pieces as the Damned Boys, Mutants, and the Peace Train engage in a head-to-head-to-head fight for Claire and Brody. The action doesn’t let up once it starts, and the art is better than solid, but the big wow moment is less effective than it should be.
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