The Good
I am hesitant to say that this is a good place to start reading if you haven't already picked up FATALE, but well, this is a good place to start reading. All of the stuff that happened in the previous, say, eight issues are irrelevant to the self-contained story in this issue. What happens here is fresh, new, and it is interesting to see Brubaker throw readers who have been following this series a sort of a curve-ball. This issue was a much needed break from Brubaker's consistent story-telling. It added a fresh new story and new layer to the Josephine as the "ultimate femme fatale," story. Although we don't get definitive answers about who she is or what she is, we do get some more clues.
This issue is accessbile to new readers because it deals with characters and a premise that we haven't seen before. This issue is self-contained, and although it does build off of the previous story arc, it's not so hard to follow if you are just starting this series.
This issue will have you at the edge of your seat. It's got a great introduction to the overall premise, the characters and the connection to demonic rituals but it focuses primarily on a different story and different characters. Although the issue still pertains to Josephine, her tale sort of takes the back seat to a bigger, overarching story. It was not until this issue that I felt that there was a bigger, broader universe that Brubaker is playing in. This story goes well beyond Josephine, and it will be interesting to see how big he makes it.
The art is, as usual, absolutely stunning. I thought I could not find Sean Phillips' art to be any prettier but I was proven wrong. His art in this issue is just absolutely breathtaking.
The Bad
No complaints here. This was another great issue of FATALE.
The Verdict
I think the previous story may have been a bit too drawn out and I think it was necessary to finally get some closure on the previous story and start fresh with issue #11. This issue definitely does not disappoint. Brubaker has a way of building up a story and making you think it will go one way, but he throws a curve ball at you. That is definitely what happens here. It's an edge-of-your-seat reading experience that will leave you wanting more. A fantastic, self-contained story paired with some really beautiful art work makes this a perfect issue. It has everything you would want in a horror comic: great writing, beautiful art and a whole lot of suspense.