Xombi #4

The most awesome breakfast in the history of breakfast, bagels f-bombs, and secret passages to fantastical floating fortresses.  
 
The Good 
I've loved the covers that Irving's been turning out for this series. The Skull Stronghold looks absolutely fantastic on this cover and the minor change of coloring the eyes gives it a truly Don Bluth vibe.  
 
Is it possible to praise Frazer Irving's artwork enough? I, for one, think not! The more I read this series and analyze Irving's art the more I realize just how integral he is to the success of this book. I really can't fathom any other artists penciling this book in his stead. His use of color, his character's expressions and posture, the epic beardiness of Rabbi Sinnowitz (which makes even Alan Moore gaze jealously) everything is just so beautifully wonderful. You could read these issues without the script and still take away so much. If you need any proof of this just look at how he poses each character during the issue. The opening pages with David and Annie are filed with an electric chemistry and thick sexual tension. The flirtation in her eyes in these pages says all that needs to be said.  
 
The discussion David and Annie have before the others arrive was very well written. It was humorous, informative, and (as previously mentioned) rife with flirtatious energy.  
 
I really like the father/son relationship between David and Rabbi Sinnowitz. Their interaction was definitely one of the highlights this issue. I'm all for plot driven stories, but I love that Rozum's made this book so character centric. The character interactions is one of the things that makes this book such a compelling and unique read month in and month out. 
 
During their private time Annie tells David that he will eventually be forced to leave behind the life he knows. She asks him what's holding him there, David avoids answering her but we get a clue in a very innocuous panel.  
 
This is easily one of the most fun and funny books that's out on the market there were plenty of moments when I found myself laughing out loud at the dialog. The looks on everybody's face when Annie says she was born in 1872 was classic. And Julian's ornery outburst during Annie's grandiose preamble was a perfect beat. Catholic Girl doesn't say much this issue but the way Irving draws here really said everything she needed to say. Her lively energy is just infectious and I couldn't help smiling, smirking, and chuckling right along side her. I've read her for four issue and already she's one of  my favorite characters in recent memory. In fact that could be said about the entire issue.   
  
Rozum is a very dialogue heavy, wordy writer. That being said most of this issue is an info dump that takes place over breakfast (these guys really like bagels by the way). Now with most writers this would be really, really, really BOOORING!!!! However, Rozum's mastery of dialogue makes this really work as a strength of the series. This is especially true of this issue. Rozum's stated that his aim's to have David serve as a stand in for the reader. We're moving through this journey with David,  learning as he learns. This approach has been working quite well in my opinion. 
 
Annie's origin was genuinely interesting and really made me connect with the character. She's done some terrible, terrible things but I think we can all relate to her reasons why. Her origin introduces some really lofty, and intriguing concepts and I can't wait to see them explored in future issues. And I'm a sucker for C.S. Lewis, anytime a writer makes an allusion to his Space Trilogy they automatically go up a notch in my book.     
 
Roland Finch is a villain that I've immediately connected with. I'm a sucker for snobbish, Luciferian manipulators. I like the way this guy operates but also can't wait to see him get his just desserts. I also love the design of his henchmen, very simple but infinitely effective.  

The Bad 
Dave's hair looks like one solid mass again. I prefer the way that Irving drew it in issues 2/3 
  
More of you aren't reading this Fantastic book.  

The Verdict 
BUY THIS COMIC!!!   
In a recent interview Rozum stated that one of his goals with Xombi was to usher a return of the anything goes aspect of the medium. Over the past two decades everything's become so grounded, dark, and "gritty" that things have become much less interesting. That sense of the fantastic has indeed faded in our post Watchmen/Dark Knight returns world. And this Post Identity Crisis generation of writers have only taken the aesthetic, not the artistic core of what made those stories so wonderful. Xombi is a return to when the only limitations on your story was what the writer could imagine and the artist could draw. Xombi returns the absurdity, weirdness, and pure fun that was only possible in comics. I really do feel like there hasn't been something this boldly avante garde since Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol. 
 
Warning!!! Soap box mode engaged... 
With the upcoming relaunch looming the future of this title is looking uncertain, especially due to it's low sales. If you've been enjoying this title as much as I have I implore you to email and write DC about just how much you've been enjoying it. I myself am rather cynical about the influence of fan feedback (other than with dollars), but a dedicated fan letter campaign is the thing that got this title relaunched in the first place. If you enjoy this book then spread the word about it, pass your issues along to friends. Hopefully it will turn them on to the title as well. Encourage them to buy the series, It's only four issues in so they don't have much to catch up on. If you're one of those people waiting for the trade then I appeal to you to go out and buy these issues. Trades are great for readers but when people wait to buy them instead of the monthly issues (what the company really cares about) then the chances of a series continuing or even being collected in trade is slim to none. So if you've been curious about this title I suggest you to just go out and pick up the first issue and dive in. Don't Worry, Mr. Rozum's made it quite easy for you to do so. Trust me, when you finish it  you'll be clamoring to get your hands on the rest shortly thereafter.