Valen The Outcast #5
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Michael Alan Nelson
Artist: Matteo Scalera (cover by Khary Randolph)
Colorist: Archie Van Buren
As Valen and his friends sail across the sea, something unforeseen begins to make a move against him. They are called Furies, and they are basically dead women that have a certain elemental power or ability. One has fire, one ice, and one wind. They attack the ship mercilessly, and the crew is all but killed. The only survivors look to be Cordovan, Zjanna, and possibly Valen. I say possibly, because one of the Furies is his dead ex-wife. Most people can understand how that conversation is going to go, but let’s not jump to conclusions. She might just want to talk about the weather or alimony payments or something…probably not since she blames him for her death and the death of their son!
Nelson is building up this fight that will eventually occur between Korrus and Valen so much, that if it isn’t more epic than Ali vs. Frazier, I’m going to be severely disappointed. Korrus has hurt Valen every way possible to hurt someone, and that’s an understatement. You know what they say about paybacks, don’t you? Well, Valen is now jacked up more than ever to end this and retrieve his soul from him, that he’s almost over the edge himself. Will Valen drown or be nagged to death by his dead ex-wife? Read to find out, but Nelson is doing a great job on this book, and it should be on everyone’s pull list in the world!
Matteo Scalera and Archie Van Buren are a fantastic team with the artwork. There is never a time when the scenes are too cluttered or indescribable. That’s huge, because even the big two get that wrong sometimes. From pencils to colors, this book is solid. The new characters that have appeared in this issue are really cool, too. These “Furies” wreak a ton of havoc in just minutes, and the fact that they look the way they do makes them scary! Of course, there are a few different choices for covers. Really, you can’t go wrong with any of them. This series has already shown so much, but is only beginning its trip upward! Rating 4/5
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net
