Fatale #16 Review
‘Chapter Two’
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Colourist: Elizabeth Breitweiser
A review by Jake Morris.
The length of Ed Brubaker’s and Sean Phillips’ newest series has been extended further than what was originally planned, and although some may have feared that the extension was going to stretch out an already plotted story, the mystery behind Josephine, Nicolas and all of the occult material has only heightened.
Across the previous three arcs, two of which had more overbearing on current events in the story, we have seen many characters perish, most of them being main figureheads in the story. So with the beginning of a new arc in the story in the previous issue, we met a new main male character and also some new supporting characters.
Fatale has balanced mystery with resolve as Brubaker has planned out just how to keep readers wanting more without becoming frustrated at who is Josephine, why is she special and what is the power she has over the male gender. These questions are only further thrust upon us in #16 as we meet the new characters.
An aspect of the story that I have found myself enjoying most each chapter is how expertly Brubaker switches decades, this time planting us in the 90s. Of course with the 90s comes the camaraderie of rock bands and the struggle many went through in that time to find purpose. Josephine, as ever, provides that purpose even though the characters involved do not even question the effect she is having on them. Lance, as to be expected, comes across as being completely infatuated by Jo, and Sean Phillips portrays this through wide smiles and puppy dog eyes. It is quite hypnotic as both artist and writer attempt to draw you in and feel at ease with how Josephine goes about her business.
With Lance comes his band mates and this adds a new dynamic to proceedings. The sense of competition for her affections stares you in the face, and it is something you, the reader, can see all too clearly; all the while the characters in the story being completely oblivious.
Each member of the band living in this one house, referred to as a ‘mansion’ at one point (Jo sure does pick them well) has their own personality. It is refreshing to see a larger cast as opposed to the smaller one used in earlier issues. Tom, one of the band members and currently suffering from a lack of motivation also brings his girlfriend into the picture. Since the first few issues I have been wanting to see how another female character would behave around Josephine and the reaction is as you would expect. Readers should most definitely await the climax of that aspect of the story in future issues.
Furthermore we get glimpses into the varying effects that Jo has on each character on a psychological level. Some more terrifying than others. Brubaker and Phillips perfectly capture the blissful unawareness of the characters involved despite the reader knowing the dread and probable deadly outcome awaiting them. It is also through their storytelling, in art and narration, that you find confliction in how you follow Josephine’s story. You root for her but you also know the ghastly fate of almost every character she has come across, a long with another character also shown in this issue. A character that looks to be heading on a collision course with chaos in the next few issues.
Overall, the work by Ed Brubaker and Seam Phillips is as what has come to be expected; rewarding but also filled with intrigue. A quality that is consistent and a story built around characters mixed with a dose of violence and splashes of lust. This is grade A noir on a horror story telling level.
We are also given a better look at some pages from Brubaker’s next new titles; ‘Velvet’ so readers should also lookout for that at the back of the book.
5/5
Jake is a contributing writer for Drunk On Comics. You can follow him on Twitter at @JakeUtd.