Grim Leaper comes to a predictably unpredictable conclusion in issue #4 with an ending that’s weirdly normal for a series that’s normally weird. (That probably doesn’t make sense.) Here’s the official description from Image:

With a startling leap that has left them both asking serious questions, Lou and Ella finally meet in a way they never thought possible. Don’t miss the romantic finale to their dating journey where nothing is what it seems and happily ever after is never a guarantee. 

Anyone hoping that all secrets would be revealed at the end of Grim Leaper will be disappointed by this issue. We never find out the cause of Lou and Ella’s body-hopping experience, and some new twists that take place are equally unexplained. Still, Kurtis Wiebe can be forgiven for that, because Grim Leaper is, first and foremost, a love story, and love needs no explanation (I can’t believe I just wrote that).

Whereas previous issues of GL have been dominated by extravagant gore, issue #4 is relatively low on that. In terms of story it’s nearly vanilla; the relationship aspect dominates and the looming threat of death is completely gone. Even the final twist is bloodless.

Aluisio C. Santos‘ pencils are also toned down to suit the story. While the purple and blue color scheme is still here, the art is most remarkable for it’s sheer normalcy, compared to the first three issues. While the panels’ perspectives aren’t always perfect, everything is easy to follow and Lou and Ella’s real bodies are genuinely attractive, as opposed to their typically grotesque hosts.

The back-up story, by Ed Brisson, with art by Johnne Christmas, is a bit of a mish-mash. The twist ending is clever, but the delivery is so dead-pan that it drains my interest. Christmas’ art is wonderfully grim and realistic, but the faces are completely flat and emotionless (intentionally, I assume). While the plot is genuinely good, the execution is lifeless.

Grim Leaper #4 plays against expectations in a lot of ways, but ultimately delivers a satisfactory ending to a series that”s generally been pretty, well, grim.

3/5