I could say this over and over again until my teeth bleed, but Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have created one of the most entertaining comics I've ever read. The way these to capture the readers with every issue, every page, and every panel still amazes me. I have talked about it before but they really have created a femme fatale with Jo. She is captivating to each of the men in the comic as well as the reader of the comic. We only have this issue and one left, and I'm not going to lie I'm pretty sad that this comic is ending. Although I'm very intrigued to see what happens in the last issue. I'm wondering how all of this will end especially with the men in her life. I don't know if Jo will live or die or continue to go on forever but it is certain that she has affected a lot of people and somehow their story is going to have to end too with Jo's. Let's dive right in. Joe and Nicolas have now been together for a while I still find Otto's story interesting but we don't see him this week. Clearly something will happen with Jo and Nicolas and it almost makes me wonder where his head is at. Nicolas seems like the most centered guy that Jo has encountered, so I thought maybe he wouldn't be attracted to her or would take measures to push her away. I don't know why I keep getting fooled by this comic but clearly there is no man who Jo hasn't touched in some way; figuratively and metaphorically. I also can't tell if Jo is good or not. Maybe it isn't a matter of her being good or evil but something has to be keeping her going. And I don't know what that is or if it will ever get revealed. But like any rational human being, we want to know if she is good, if she is bad, what is her purpose. For Burbaker and Phillips are wise in creating this persona and making myself and other readers curious about Jo's intentions.
But back to this issue, it's really about Jo and Nicolas' connection. I don't know if Joe has really ever open up like she did with another man. Maybe Otto has been her savior this whole time but the way she acted in this issue made it seem like her sexual relationships have been here savior. That sounds bad, but I don't really know if it is. I think it is this control that she is under. But again, who knows.
Even with the whole issue being dedicated to one scene between two people it was very powerful in terms of the storyline and plot. Jo has a plan and it's finally being put in place. Nicolas is caught up in this plan and we don't truly know how he feels about it either. Anything dealing with Jo makes me second guess every man's intentions.
The art is definitely more intense in this issue too. The pictures are unlike anything we've seen in other issues. They are way more elaborate and deal with an almost sci-fi feeling. It really captured the mood of the comic as well as what the characters were feeling. Nicolas finally gets an inside view of Joe and the readers do as well. Even though we know more about Jo's stuff than most, this time around we get such a rawness of her history.
I don't have to tell you that Brubaker and Phillips have a great thing going. Once it is over, I may shed a tear but man it has been an awesome series. The story captivated me in every way. Jo is one girl who knows how to capture an audience. Whatever happened I'm sure that anything will be spectacular, and I'm sure will always be a femme fatale to many.
Score: 5/5
Writer: Ed Brubaker Artist: Sean Phillips Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 6/18/14 Format: Limited Series, Print/Digital