Fatale #14 Review

Fatale #14 keeps up the current formula of providing done-in-one chapters focused on different points in history. This issue returns to a somewhat more familiar setting, though, as Ed Brubaker shifts back to Josephine and her exploits in WWII-era Europe. This issue is a mix of the new and familiar. Brubaker again weaves a tale of a hapless male hero rescuing Jo from her supernatural captors whiles he lament the curse of her immortality. But Brubaker also sprinkles in some flashback material that follows Jo as she travels the continent and learns more about her true nature. The plot feels somewhat more relevant to the book's ongoing threads than in the previous couple issues, but in some ways feels a little too familiar and formulaic at this point.

Still, the WWII setting is a great mix for the book's trademark blend of pulp and horror. Brubaker's Lovecraftian thugs have rarely felt more imposing than they are here, decked out in Nazi attire and carrying out arcane rituals. Naturally, the art team make the most of this setting. Sean Phillips' shadowy landscapes and sinister figures are as haunting as ever. Meanwhile, Bettie Breitweiser has managed to fill the void left by colorist Dave Stewart without missing a beat. Her colors are more muted here than in much of her recent Marvel work, but that's in keeping with the book's general aesthetic.

Going forward, I'd like to see the standalone issue format used a bit more sparingly. One or two issues in between longer arcs is fine, but when Brubaker writes an entire arc's worth of one-shots in a row without much tangible momentum, the approach becomes a little tiring. That said, a formulaic issue of Fatale is still one of the better books on the stands.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com