The Blood Queen #4 Review

Four issues in, is there worth here? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

“Reign in Blood” continues as Elizabeth and Helena get a closer look at the power behind the throne. And as the king rides out to prevent a war, the battle may already be on its way to him! Plots and ambitions put everyone in danger, forcing Jon Hunter to reveal the lengths that he’ll go to for the crown. But what’s more frightening? A good person that goes too far, or someone that has no limits? The tension builds as Dynamite’s newest dark fantasy epic continues!

The plot thickens. If I had a way to sum up this new franchise for potential followers I would remark that, “this is a smart fantasy with a hint of Game of Thrones politics and enough magic to keep things interesting.” And this latest release, by a capable creative team, is no different.

Troy Brownfield pens the script and the narrative steadily evolves while attacking some interesting societal conundrums. The threatened use of torture in the search of truth, faithfulness and overreaction in an instance that questions honor. All of these are items that move and shake kingdoms in these types of tales, but what I found most useful was the dialogue between the ladies of the castle. The author used them to communicate world views and the realities of rule, while setting up more nuggets of information.

I’ve become quite a fan of the illustrative works of Fritz Casas. I’m not sure what it is but right from the first panel the talent’s style feels perfectly suited for this epic. Each line and every detail serves a purpose as the series continues its path toward whatever future the creative team has in mind. Each rendition exists on the page but its the colors by Kirsty Swan that allows them to come alive in a visual dance. In short: the look of the book is superb and I have literally no complaints about what I see.

The Blood Queen #4 is a provocative piece of literature. It uses the written in a methodical manner that may not be as exciting as other titles hitting local shops this week, but it manages to do enough to leave a mark. I’ll admit that there are faults within but I’m still absolutely intrigued, as I’ll keep coming back for more. Recommended.