Advance Review: ‘Of The Earth’ #4 Regains Its Footing After A Misstep
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
This limited series get back into fighting shape thanks to a more focused script and some strong battle scenes. Some of the other illustrations come off as questionable, but it feels like this story is again headed in the right direction.
Overall
8.5/10There is a fairly common occurrence when a writer pitches an eight- or 12-part comic book miniseries to an editor. That editor will sometimes come back with something to the effect of “That feels like a four-parter.” Then, either the editor relents or they find a way to meet in the middle.
But how many series suffer from bloat? Imagine classic storylines like X-Men’s Days of Future Past, which was only two issues, or The Dark Knight Returns, which was four, being told today. They would be years long in the telling with spin offs and one-shots galore.
The six-part series Of the Earth had started feeling guilty of some needless plot elements lately. Happily, though this issue, written by Andrew Ehrich and Chris Condon, turns the story around and focuses on the horror elements. Tabby Black has returned to her gramma’s house in Solitude, Texas, only to find the old woman covered in oil and incoherent. Oil company man Thomas Morton arrives to find his coworker missing. Now the coworker is back and sick, while Gramma disappears.
She reappears brandishing a knife, in a very un-Gramma like way. To make matters worse, the Wildcatter — the creature made of oil that is terrorizing the ranch — makes an appearance. While the issue isn’t overly text-heavy, Ehrich and Condon wisely let artist Charlie Adlard’s illustrations conclude the issue with a bang.
Adlard’s kinetic ending and other fight scenes work better than his more static ones, with characters sitting around talking to each other. In some cases, the faces can look odd, as if they are misshaped or depicted from odd angles. But his battle scenes are tense and illustrative.
With only two more issues left, it’s good to see this series regain its footing. Look for more action and tighter storytelling in issues #5 and 6.
Of the Earth #4 — written by Andrew Ehrich and Chris Condon, illustrated by Charlie Adlard, colored by Pip Martin, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou — will be available Wednesday in comic book stories and on digital platforms from Image Comics.
