Cryptocracy #4 Comic Book Review
Summary: Grahame and Jason venture inside the 'Preserve' in search for any clues to put a stop to Hum and his killer Mothmen, but with a trap set up in place for them, will they find the answers they seek, or more importantly, will they make it out alive?
4.5
Fantastic!
Hidden away in northern China is the Preserve, a walled-off compound where the Nine Families which rule the free world have secreted away the world’s deadliest cryptozoological creatures. Grahame (our heroic but naïve leader of the Mars family) and Jason (his trusty bugbear assistant) risk life and limb to venture inside in search of a clue to the origin of the Mothmen… but they will soon find out that learning the truth is only the first step. Escaping with their lives will be the far bigger task in Cryptocracy #4, written by Van Jensen and illustrated by Pete Woods.
Grahame believes Jason’s childhood stories about the Mothmen may hold the clues they need to defeat Hum, the prophesied assassin out to rid the world of the nine families.
With time not on their side they quickly venture to where Jason and his family call home, the Preserve, a neutral territory built by ‘The Nine’ to protect (more like keep an eye on) the mythical but dangerous cryptid creatures that inhabit it.
But no sooner than stepping foot onto the Preserve they discover they are too late. Hum has already been there promising death to the nine families and freedom to the creatures that have been held as prisoners for century after century. With an ambush set for Grahame and Jason causing the unfolding of the sixth prophecy, there is no-where to escape, the creatures have broken down the walls and a new form of terror has been unleashed onto the world.
Meanwhile…
Bela (our beloved conspiracy podcaster) has been able to accomplish and finish what her father (a conspiracy radio host) couldn’t… she has been able to expose The Nine.
With news spreading like wild fire some are hailing her a terrorist while others a hero. Her enraged followers are banning together, pledging to take down The Nine, they have their weapons ready and they want a war. She realises she may be in over her head, that is, until she meets a man her followers are calling ‘The Prophet’ and he wants ‘her’ to lead the war. But can she trust this man she doesn’t even know, a man who likes to call himself… Hum?
Writing
Finally, the side to the Cryptocracy series that I have been waiting for – the character development and the cryptids! I would have to say this is my favourite issue in the series because it starts to answer the questions that have been brewing in my mind. There isn’t much of a mention about the nine families (like in previous issues) instead we learn more about the rivalry between Temple (with her daddy issues) and Grahame, his close brother-like bond to Jason, the unspoken crush he has on Bela and how Hum is turning into a master manipulator. The story flows well, the pacing is fast and I liked the small off-handed remarks in regards to urban legends (like the Loch Ness Monster) and the reference to Edward Snowden (to add an element about a real life cryptocracy theory). This is one issue that will leave you excited for what is to come, especially with the cliffhanger at the end.
Artwork
This issue is a great example where the artwork mirrors the story perfectly as Pete Woods once again delivers on point. The cover art is fantastic. The colours used throughout the issue range from simple to contrasting, representing the environment, action scenes and characters really well. The different font used for different species is always fun to read but for one particular creature (the dragon) the font used was a little too blurry for my liking (a minor issue), but it is definitely made up for with the attention to detail on each page that will have you looking twice to see if there is something quirky you may have missed. I bet you will find a couple!
Final Thoughts?
This is a series that aims to push your imagination. Just when you think you have one question answered another one pops up to take its place. It is turning into a great series that doesn’t initially give too much away but at the same time gives you plenty to take in especially with a big twist and the end that I didn’t see coming and neither will you if you do not grab yourself a copy of Cryptocracy #4! Out now!
Comic Details
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Van Jensen
Artist: Pete Woods
Cover Artist: Pete Woods
Genre: Science-Fiction, Action/Adventure
Publication Date: 28th September 2016
Format: FC, Ongoing
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