Another tragic end.
Creative Staff:
Story: Lonnie Nadler, Zac Thompson
Art: Sami Kivela
Colors: Jason Wordie
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
What They Say:
In the wake of tragedy, Silvano makes his way across the border only to discover that nothing ever works out quite the way we expect. Meanwhile, Solomon Eaton makes a border crossing of his own, forgetting his moral compass on the other side
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The second run of Undone by Blood has been working on an interesting story in the main timeline that makes me wish I enjoyed the flashback storyline more. Nadler and Thompson are both writers that I enjoyed a good bit with their AfterShock output but this particular series has left me cool with half of it as the whole 1800’s train/cowboy stuff just does not click for me at all. Thanks to Sami Kivels. I’m definitely enjoying the story focusing on Silvano more and Kivela’s presentation of this period in time and these characters since it’s long past the usual “standard” stuff that we’d always get, making it a lot more interesting and nuanced.
With just half this book or so being something to comment on, I’ll admit that the series ends with this installment in a way that I’m going to have to roll over in my mind for a while. I’m not sure what meaning that Nadler and Thompson were going for here but it’s the kind of story where I definitely enjoyed the journey. The journey in this issue in the 1930s involves Silvano and Bud making their way down to Mexico after the way events unfolded previously with the chase and the storm. Bud is definitely frustrated with himself but he’s not letting Silvano lay all of his guilt on him as well as Silvano caused his share of pain and death in what they did in going after the safe. The travel south is one mired in regret and tortured souls and a problematic crossing that sees the two men part ways.
For Silvano, he’s unable to bring himself to truly return home because of how he’s changed and we see that kind of morose journey briefly before it shifts to six years later in New York. Here, he’s attempted to forge a life in construction by being useful but that comes with him trying to cleanse part of himself as well, having cut off his hand. He’s not exactly happy but he’s content with things and doing his part to build things. But that’s when the past catches up with him as the man they robbed has come to claim his due, though it’s mostly over the killing of his son. It’s a slightly uncertain end here as the two talk and get into it a bit but the vagueness is something that I’m sure some will enjoy more than I did.
In Summary:
While I don’t think this one had the darker impact of the first series, both of them were interesting projects that we don’t see often and I’m glad they were put into circulation. AfterShock does a good job of not being just another superhero publisher but rather one with a diverse line of titles, interests, and creators. The team here has some really neat stuff going into it but I had a hard time connecting with it overall. I really loved the artwork for both periods that were told and especially for the old west side, but I really just enjoyed the story that was told about Bud and Silvano and how it all plays out.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 15+
Released By: AfterShock Comics
Release Date: June 30th, 2021
MSRP: $4.99
