Shit balls. These are two words that describe my experience while reading issue #17. This comic just got super real. Fatale is a wonderful comic that you just can’t seem to put down. I wish I had a map that laid out all my characters, so I could see how they connect. I would probably find out some new stuff. I don’t know how a writer sits down and maps all this out. Either Ed Brubaker is a total genius or he took years to develop this story. I don’t ever get sick of the twist and turns through each character, because the basis remains the same; what is up with this Jo chick? And guess what I am dying to find out just like all of us suckers who read this comic. Like most of the issues, we jump around between a lot of characters here. Stories are flying at me from all angles. This is probably the comic I read with the most care, because if you forget something it will come back to haunt you.
We catch up with Nick and Nelson on the run. Nelson just seems like a crazy homeless man, but he very clearly holds real keys into the whole Jo mystery. He knows how to stay hidden. Nick is a passenger for the whole ride. He doesn’t do much, because he is ordered to do nothing. Nelson hints on some pretty big issues that we haven’t heard from in a while, including the whole clut thing, which I am glad to see is slowing being brought back.
We jump next to Wulf and his depressing life. I really do feel bad for this dude; serial killer and all. He has some major issues, and it all leads back to Jo. He is more involved with Jo than I originally thought. At first, I thought he was a serial killer but still an innocent person in the sense that he just couldn’t get over his first love. But I was so wrong. He knows a lot.
We then catch up with Jo and her house full of band mates. The other stories are crazy, but here we hit some serious S-H-I-T. It is total craziness. I don’t want to reveal too much, because you really should pick up this issue. Not just if you are fan but if you love good story telling. I promise you will get hooked. Lance and Jo are on a robbing spree, while the whole house is not necessarily becoming jealous of Lance but instead becoming more obsessed with Jo. The tension is building, and we all knew that something had to boil over. And something does. I didn’t know whose hands would be the culprit, but I am surprised by the results.
Hands down, I would have to say that Fatale is my favorite comic out right now. It showcases everything I love about mystery reading. If this were a movie I would say that Jo was casted on point in every aspect, but to think that she is just a character from a comic is an even greater compliment to how well-built she is. This issue proves my point exactly, and I love when a comic can build up to the hype I give it.
Score: 5/5
Writer: Ed Brubaker Artist: Sean Phillips Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 9/25/13