Advance Review: ‘Mugshots’ #4 Does Not Develop Perfectly
by Benjamin Hall
Summary
John Bannan is making a mess for himself and others, and he is feeling guilty because of it. Meanwhile the Albanian traffickers are out for blood of both John and the Woods. Also where Grace is and why will finally see revealing in this issue. Yet, will anyone go home, much less happy?
Overall
7/10Writer Jordan Thomas brings most of the plot threads to a conclusion. Fortunately, or unfortunately, there is an epilogue that one could possibly call sequel bait. Luckily, this isn’t a movie so the chance of getting a sequel is better than that would be. As for the characterization Thomas does a great job keeping the dialogue concise enough. The characters also act logical enough despite at times falling into cliché. Though there is the problem of Thomas almost writing a knock-off of DC’s John Constantine he does manage to slightly veer away from it. Still one can argue that Constantine and Mugshots’ John Bannan is a knock-off of Jack Carter (Jack’s Return Home (1970) by author Ted Lewis).
Artist Chris Matthews creates a refreshing design for this final issue. Matthews uses a dutch angle to help with creating the illusion of motion. It also helps that the ties and poses are conveying gravity and tension about to burst, respectively. While the cracks in the picture frame of a generic family photo suggest the violence about to happen and a not so happy outcome for the family. It is also worth mentioning that he does a great job with the proportions on this cover.
When it comes to the interior art Matthews does a great job with most of the sequencing. However, Thomas’s script seems to hurt the pacing of a fight scene Matthews draws out. All that one can say without spoiling it is that a character moves faster than they reasonably should. Back on the plus side, there are some fun visual jokes at one location that are could be worth most of the cover price for certain readers. Matthews also does a good job highlighting certain characters who are following the lead without being too overt. There are moments also times where subtle gestures occur. These moments see capturing either in process or at their conclusion.
As for the colors Matthews is still using the same palettes as in prior issues. Thus, there is not anything new to say about that element.
Letterer Lucas Gattoni does a great job conveying emotion in several bits of dialogue. This occurs primarily in action scenes and happens by using stylistic elements.
Mugshots #4 comes out November 20 from Mad Cave Studios.
