In VERGE #4, from Red 5 Comics on January 12th, 2022, Connie is forced through the Verge into an unexpected family reunion where she discovers the mastermind behind the temple’s operation and a new threat to Time itself.
The Details
- Written By: Bryce McLellan
- Art By: Dexter Wee
- Colors By: Louie Joyce
- Letters By: Sean Rinehart
- Cover Art By: Dexter Wee
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: January 12, 2022
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Was It Good?
VERGE #4 is above average for pulling off a mostly good conclusion to the arc and setting the stage for VERY big things to come. It’s not perfect, but it’s a strong finish to a unique sci-fi story.
There are a few highlights in this issue that raise it above the typical arc conclusion. Readers get a surprise reveal about the identity of the mastermind behind the NYC murders. To be blunt, you won’t see it coming but it makes perfect sense in the context of the Verge’s history.
Next, the mastermind’s plan is also revealed and the stakes surrounding it are massive. Without spoiling the details, the plan isn’t fully foiled by the end, leaving the door wide open for a much bigger story in the next arc (if there is one).
With the good comes some bad. The plan, while massive in scale and scope, is almost too big to believe. The amount of money, personnel, equipment needed to set up the plan is as massive as the plan itself. It’s hard to believe anyone could pull it off in secret, and that strain of credibility puts a mild damper on the reveal. The reader should never be distracted with asking “How?” questions, so the logistics of the plan needed more explanation than what was provided.
The art by Dexter Wee is consistently good and has been since the start of the series. That said, the standout in this issue is Louie Joyce’s colorwork. Joyce turns out excellent panels that play with light and shading to give the big scenes background depth, making them feel bigger.
In all, this is a strong end to the arc with a clear transition for the main conflict and excellent art.
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]
The “family reunion” was partially revealed at the end of the last issue. If you need a primer, first read our VERGE #3 review.
We begin with a scene in feudal-era Japan when Takamori remained after his rebellion failed. At the moment he chose to take his own life, a Verge portal opened up to offer an alternative.
Now, Connie and her mother are held in front of another Verge portal where Takamori explains his operation has prospered with the help of a mastermind with a greater plan. All the mastermind wants in return is Connie and her mother. Takamori shoves the two through the Verge, and they land in ancient Japan where they’re met by Jochi, Connie’s younger brother now grown into a man.
The happiness of the reunion is short-lived when it’s revealed Jochi is behind everything – the murders, the police corruption, all of it – as part of a grand plan to subjugate all time periods to his rule with the help of soldiers, money, and advanced weaponry.
We conclude the issue with Connie’s partner learning how deep the corruption runs in the NYPD, an ultimatum leading to a collapse, and an end that’s only just the beginning.
Final Thoughts
VERGE #4 is a finale that ends an above-average time travel story with a surprise reveal about the mastermind’s identity and a massive plan that threatens all of Time. The art is consistently good, buoyed by stellar coloring, and the story ends well enough to build anticipation for what comes next, even if the plan is too big to be believed.
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