Not So Sweet Little Lies– Reviewing ‘Lawful’ #4

In The land of New Sanctum, punishments for breaking laws or rules are doled out in a very disproportionate fashion. That sounds quite a bit familiar, doesn’t it reality?

Turning into a beast, being exiled, and being pushed into private prisons (workforces) share a lot of things in common. Lawful #4 takes a deep look at the inequities, corruption, and ways the disenfranchised must make do with what they have. A stark look at this fantasy world, and a mirror to our own, courtesy of Greg Pak, Diego Galindo, Irma Kniivila, and Simon Bowland.

Stories that roll around in the grasses of fantasy while keeping a foot in political reality are nothing new. Some of the best or most celebrated stories of the genre do just that, finding a way to take many of the struggles that humanity faces for real and turn them on their head or present them in a more ‘palatable’ package.

It was clear from the start what Lawful was aiming for with the whole curse and what it meant for those who break the rules. Once we saw how the higher class was circumventing the curse, the whole thing became even starker in its focus. With this issue Pak really dives into what happens when those in power wrong those under them. We see Sung and his mother exiled because of his growing beast qualities as more rules are broken (in the name of saving those he loves). Through this exile, they find a community and purpose that they find far more fulfilling than the pretenses and hoops that came with their higher-class previous life.

We’ve been thrust into this new yet quite rich and familiar world. One with depth and detail that really helps bring about an ease and comfort, even with such uncomfortable too close to reality subject matter.

We see that on the page through the work that Galindo has done through these issues. This gives every character, space, and setting piece such vibrant energetic life. There are tons of details that really flesh out the pages mixed with lush greenery and powerful facial expressions and body language. No characters ever feel alike and nothing feels static at any point, as the characters move fluidly and dynamically at all times.

One of the things that I love about this is the mix of strange, natural, and 80s Earth visuals that are whipped together. Creating something alien but not at the same time, really leaning into a well-used and effective tool for fantasy stories. Build them upon what we know while asking questions that deliver different and new.

All of this reflects in the color palette from Kniivila. All the buildings and some natural elements are a more neutral tone. Thus, we get the familiarity flowing through every page, matched with the slightly poppier tones for the swell of nature that has engulfed this city. Certain bits upon the characters, often in this case the curse afflictions on many of them, are where the vibrancy kicks up a few notches.

Because this is a more “down-to-Earth” type of affair, most of the palette stays in this range. Giving things that grounded and real impact. Along with the shadows and heavier colors that swirl through the pages to complete the effect.

Emotions are all over the place within these pages, as the characters have a lot of realities and changes to contend with. We see and feel it on the page as presented. Through the work that Bowland does so well, we hear it and feel it even more. Really giving every word on the page it’s intended power, whether through subtle or major modifications.

Lawful #4 is now available from BOOM! Studios.