Nothing will stop the Beast Hunter … especially when she must save a friend.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Dave Franchini
Artwork: Igor Vitorino
Colors: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
Letters: Kurt Hathaway
What They Say:
It’s Belle vs Beast in this penultimate issue! Belle faces the deadliest battle of her life and what she discovers will change everything!
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
With the Beast having taken her best friend into the fetid depths of Philadelphia’s underground, Belle has no choice than to follow this cowardly kidnapper into these unknown confines. Wary of what she may find within, this hunter chases her quarry, wondering to herself what could be waiting in the dim light as she wanders through unfamiliar territory. However even as DiMarco’s eyes adjust to the grimness surrounding her, there is a sense of something lurking in the shadows, with it only being a matter of time until she is inundated by a swarm of nocturnal nuisances, wanting nothing more than to feed on a new meal. These foul troglodytes may not be wise to the ways of tactical combat, but their numbers make up for the foolish strategy of charging forward blindly, allowing for ferocity and hunger to drive them into this murderous fray.
With each of these malodorous malcontents which Belle cleaves in two, there seems to be another fanatically willing to take its place, with slavering maw and cries of hunger the only means of communication to announce their coming. It is not long before their savagery overcomes sheer determination, causing our heroine to fall before animalistic cruelty, seeing her life flash before her eyes and recall the first time she met Mel … during a time emotional struggle as she watched her brother Alex run away from home to find their lost mother. Bitter words caused a rift between the siblings, and while they may not be related by blood, to be raised by a stranger as if he was her own resulted in bonds which none could sever, even in death. Estrangement of family caused the two to become best friends, letting nothing tear their bond apart, and as she faces imminent defeat, will the Beast Hunter allow these revolting creatures to separate her from someone who is so close … and yet so far?
In Summary:
As we remorsefully reach the penultimate issue of this memorable series, it extremely gratifying to see the history of Belle’s family eventually come full circle, but not in the way we were expecting. If you look back to the premiere story and recall the introduction of Alex, there were many subtle hints writer Dave Franchini dropped within that narrative, especially clues as to how his role would expand in the near future. It is this type of immersive tale which allows the reader to relate to the characters, see how their relationships intertwine and more provocatively, what happens with the passage of time and tragedy. Franchini crafted a magnificent telling interlinking this introduction with the current story, showing remorsefully how Alex and Belle coped with the passing of their mother, particularly how each sibling tolerated the loss and respectfully how words can be as painful as any physical wound. The pain DiMarco caused herself was meaningful, defining how she blames herself for the torment of losing another family member, only to find a surrogate in Mel and the purposeful relationship of being more than a best friend. It is only now do we truly see how this tie runs deeper, her classmate has become an adoptive sister, helping to tolerate the mental stress of death and the agony of chasing away her sibling. And now that the title is coming to a gut wrenching conclusion, I am appreciative of how Franchini brings everything within this family melodrama to a satisfying close, allowing the past and present to clash via conflict and resolve itself the only this household knows … through hunting the beasts which go bump in the night.
Even with such a grounded narrative, it could not have such a forceful impact without the curiously captivating imagery of Igor Vitorino, wondrously combining the savagery of beasts against the seductive beauty of our favorite hunter. The reader is lured into this oddly haunting underworld by the first page, watching as Belle slinks along with caution, her sexy leather clad form projecting a secure sense of confidence, but at the same time still cautious of the danger lurking all around her. And yet it is the subdued palette of Juan Manuel Rodriguez which addresses the obvious tension in the air, decorating the landscape with shades of nauseating green within the fetid water and the lurid moss dotting the rocky terrain. They only heighten the distress with clever close up panel shots until we erupt to the highly dramatic full page spread reminiscent of Frazetta or Vallejo – our fearless heroine perched high atop a mound with creatures rushing forward, her double edge axe brandished in obvious defiance. It is clear Vitorino had fun creating this fight scene, with Belle overemphasizing her anger in exaggerated facial expressions, and Rodriguez’s glorious display of colors amplifying the action in all of their gory details. This is the obvious way to address a battle for survival, creatures clawing forward in search for blood all while our spectacular adventuress challenges this horde with the pleasure of the battle and a want to release her rage. If this is how they create the issue before the conclusion … I cannot wait to see what they will do with the series finale.
Belle: Beast Hunter has been an engaging story, a roller coaster ride of emotional turmoil all while encased within the uncertainty of success or survival. To watch Belle surge forward in contagious confidence is exhilarating, but to witness her sink to the depths of apprehension is also addictive, all knowing this is the same person who projects self-assurance in her every action. As we know the journey is coming to a regretful end, we also know the story is never over since the conclusion can be just as exciting as the beginning.
Grade: A+
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: October 24, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
