Review: ‘Nemesis Forever’ #4 Suggests Nemesis Isn’t As Untouchable As He Seems

Nemesis is certainly determined, I’ll give him that. Determined, by any means necessary, to see his most audacious plan through to its bitter end. Even though the opening of this issue sees him on the back foot. Something we rarely see happen. Could this be foreshadowing his downfall, maybe? A Machiavellian mastermind almost caught out by his own scheme. And with the resourceful undercover agent, Kitty Tepper, seemingly making headway in bringing him down, it does leave the finale to this series — next issue — up in the air. Just the way it should be. Our heroes (and villains) should never be indestructible. Hence, Batman is brought down whenever a new creative team take him on. And it must be with Nemesis. If not, then where’s the danger, the tension and the suspense?

Writer Mark Millar has done well to showcase this. Up until now, it felt like Nemesis could do no wrong in doing wrong. But that would just be boring. Yes, there’s still the fun of witnessing his grandiose plans unfold. Awe at the vast scale and complexities of his crime sprees. But, after several miniseries, that can’t continue. Or maybe it can? We have been encouraged to sympathise with Tepper and the unenviable position she has put herself in. Her pregnancy just seals the deal. She is our hope and possible saviour. 

Or maybe she isn’t. This is Mark Millar we are declining with here. A writer who revels in the darker sides of humanity, in which the hero doesn’t always win. All this uncertainty has the desired effect. To make the reader want more. To know what comes next. The art, by Matteo Scalera, is the proverbial cherry on top of the cake. It’s been bugging me for a while now, where I have seen such a succinct style before. And then it hit me. Unintentionally or not, Scalera’s work on this book reminds me of Alex Toth, albeit without the economy of line that Toth mastered. But it’s certainly got shades of his influence, and the comic book sings as a result of this epic art. And like Toth’s there is a kinetic energy to it, with cross-hatching suggesting dynamic movement and action, giving this issue the pace the script demands. 

Nemesis Forever #4 tests the reader’s nerves and sets up an air of unpredictability for the concluding issue, leaving us baying for more. How this criminal enterprise ends is up in the air, but it’s certainly got this reviewer keen to read what happens next. Especially after the lengths he goes to in this issue to secure his victory. But at what price?

That’s the eight billion dollar question that will be answered one way or another in just a few short weeks.

Nemesis Forever #4 is out now from Dark Horse Comics.