Inconsistency Is The Only Constant In ‘Blood & Thunder’ #16
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Just when this series hits a new high or new low, it turns things around and surprises you. It’s lack of consistency — good or bad — is frustrating. But at least this issue is a good one. Enjoy it while you can.
Overall
8.5/10The only thing worse than a bad comic book? An inconsistent one.
It’s one thing if you know a comic is going to be bad. Your expectations are low to begin with, and you’re not likely to be disappointed. But when it’s inconsistent, you don’t know whether to be excited or to dread the next issue.
Such is the dilemma with Blood & Thunder. Now in its 16th issue (an accomplishment in and of itself), this book has been an enigma. Sometimes it’s quite strong, and other times the decisions made by its creative team are so head-scratching that I swear I’ll never pick up another issue. Even more odd is that the quality of issues within the same story arc are inconsistent.
After a big disappointment last chapter, I was not looking forward to this issue. And, of course, writer Benito Cereno and artist E.J. Su turned out a good one. I shouldn’t complain, but following this series can give a reader whiplash.
After several issues with the sentient weapon Thunder missing in action, the gun with an attitude showed up in a big way. It turns out that Thunder is an older model firearm on the list to be decommissioned and destroyed while its owner/partner Blood is on the run from the space cops. So Blood goes on a rescue mission.
Cereno gives us some interesting background on Thunder and its series of weaponry. It’s a bit too much as it bogs down the beginning of the issue with exposition, but things soon pick up from there. Continuing an idea from last issue, Cereno contrasts the two generations of AI guns, giving the more modern version an annoying and familiar attitude.
Su’s artwork remains basic but tells the story effectively enough. There are a few nicely done panels, but they are oddly obscured by some overly intrusive word art. It’s too bad, because it covers up some of his best work.
Who knows what to expect in this series’ next issue? It might be great or it might suck. Your guess is as good as mine.
Blood & Thunder #16 — written by Cereno, illustrated by Su, colored by Msassyk, and lettered by Rus Wooton — will be available Wednesday in comic book stories and on digital platforms from Image Comics.
