There’s always tomorrow.
Creative Staff:
Story: Fabian Rangel, Jr., Javier Caba
Art: Javier Caba
Colors: Javier Caba
Letterer: Ryan Ferrier
What They Say:
The Soliz Brothers aren’t seeing eye to eye on their next move. Diego believes that the missing skull they’re looking for was purchased by none other than Medusa, and wants to question her. His brother and their boss want to them to keep looking for Calavera. Diego disobeys and finds himself in serious trouble in the form of a raging Minotaur!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Blood Brothers has managed in its run to deliver something unexpected yet familiar with its story, characters, and setting. Rangel and Caba are working in familiar turf when it comes to creatures of legend blending into the world but the use of an older setting gives it something a little fresh. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s not your standard locations and cast, though sometimes I have to hit up the Google to do a quick translate on a phrase or two just to ensure I’m getting the intent right. There’s a kind of ease to the flow of the book that once again makes this one fun, as does the dynamic between brothers, but it’s also just the kind of rough yet dynamic look of the cast of characters from start to finish that drives the energy for it more than anything else.
While the brothers have broken up the auction and gotten the auctioneer, the skull itself is still missing. There are leads but they’re not allowed to follow up with Medusa because of her position and instead are sent to continue looking for Cava. Before that can happen there’s still some tension between the brothers after the last issue and that has Gabe feeling very cut off, though not so much that he doesn’t know his brother. Diego’s not the type to wait in going after where he thinks it is and knowing Medusa he’s pretty sure the skull is there. Hence his ditching his brother in the middle of the night to make his way down to her underground castle to take it up with her. Gabe’s aware of all of it so you know it’s just a matter of time before he comes in behind him to save the day but it works well because Diego doesn’t know and still plays a strong game against Medusa.
The visuals for all of this are fun as is how Diego’s able to not be turned to stone combined with Gabe arriving later and using a wrap to cover his eyes, fighting blind. Medusa, for her part, has a very fun old school vibe coming from her in how she deals with Diego and her past feelings toward him, though it’s not enough to save the brothers from her wrath. The book works through some fun reconciliation for them once they’re forced to work together again and we also see how they do look out for the creatures of myth that are still trapped in old bondages like the Minotaur they come across here. With the book ending in one more issue this one just works through another avenue of where the skull could be and helps to expand the world as we know it but it doesn’t offer what seems to be a concrete lead for them to work with.
In Summary:
Blood Brothers is a miniseries that I’m already hoping that another one is in the process of being produced because there’s a lot to like here. The team has taken the familiar, given it a good spin of their own, and is open to a lot more expansion and interpretation to be even bigger and more involved. This issue’s focus on Medusa is fun with what it introduces and it has me wanting to know a lot more of her past and that of the brothers, which we do get a glimpse of. The script continues to be fun and well paced with some good moments that make you grin while the artwork is definitely rich in detail and solid in flow so that you’re easily caught up in it all, especially when the action hits. Definitely an under the radar title worth checking out.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: August 23rd, 2017
MSRP: $3.99
