Issue: The Anchor #4
Release Date: January 13, 2010
Writer: Phil Hester
Artist: Brian Churilla
Cover A: Brian Churilla (Colors: Matthew Wilson)
Cover B: Phil Hester (Colors: Matthew Wilson, Inks: Ande Wilson)
Colors: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Johnny Lowe
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
If you still haven’t picked up The Anchor, you really really should, my bitching and moaning about certain elements aside. Again, we start out with a little flash from the past. The reader gets another glimpse of a younger, less beat-up looking Clem fighting what look like Vikings.
I really like these little forays into the past, we see The Anchor both more and less human. In the present, we see him as the righteous weapon of god, beating the pants off demons (and, you know, eating their hearts) and sending them where they belong and in the past as just beating the pants off of whomever. This brings up the question, when exactly did good ole’ Clem turn into the Clem Hofi is following around “today”? In my oh-so-humble opinion, they’re doing an AMAZING job of keeping me interested in Clem, but everyone else — eh, I can pretty much leave ’em.
Also in this issue, the “Wounded Man” who looks like a creepy mummified Pharaoh is talking riddles and throwing people around. I’m not really sure what his purpose is yet, other than serving as a wake up call to Clem before “The Breeder” comes and pummels him. He seems ominous; I’m not sure if he is summoning the Furies attacking Clem or just happens to be the ringside announcer, but other than doing us all a favor and throwing Hofi and Colonel McBride around, he hasn’t really shown anyone his stake in this whole story yet. He does get mad props from me for sharing my sentiments on the two aforementioned extras.
Before I continue, I must have my rant on Hofi and McBride. Hofi serves one purpose this issue: to tell Clem how to defeat The Breeder. Oh, and to have ridiculously bad dialogue with Colonel McBride. I mean horrendous. Now, the conversations of the characters throughout (so far) have been sub-par to the narration, but they are just plain horrific when it comes to these two. I would much rather Clem have a divine moment of inspiration on how to defeat The Breeder rather than having Hofi run to the Vatican Library and then all of the way back or some such nonsense. How does she know what books specifically to look for to find the answer anyway — its a flippin’ library, there must be thousands upon thousands of books! Oh yeah, and Hofi continues to look like an angular unattractive man.
Another bit of spice thrown in is we are momentarily taken back to the realm where The Anchor’s soul does battle to protect the gate to heaven. The big cheese there and his naked mole rat of doom have decided that sending out minions to do the dirty work isn’t very effective; therefore, he must take it upon himself. What will this mean for Clem, both in the spiritual realm and in reality? Will this interfere with him finding the last of the furies? Who knows?! I don’t, but I’ll keep reading to find out!
Overall, this was yet another enjoyable installment to the story. I really wish Hofi and McBride weren’t there at all, but I can make some sacrifices to find out what’s going to happen. I do know after reading just this much I can’t wait for a trade paperback to come out so I can read it all at once rather than in bits and pieces. The artwork when you look at everything but Hofi is great — just the style I really enjoy in comics. While this maybe won’t be the strongest issue, I look forward to reading more.
Rating: 3 / 5 Stars