By Hunter T. Patrick
Dark. Twisted. Delicious. The book where you can’t help but keep returning to try all its fun flavors. This issue does not feel like it has the standard horror as the other issues. Sure there is still some horror, but this issue has a different feel compared to the others and makes the issue all the stronger. The horror elements do not really come after this issue’s protagonist as it feels separate. This issue trades that in for heart and a new type of horror that haunts everything else: loss. No crazy monsters or anything this month in the traditional sense and it helps this strong series stays on top.
There still are the traditional monsters but hidden away for now. There is not anything present to directly affect the story… for now. I always wanted to see some more connectedness in this series and it feels this is the direction the series is about to go in, which makes me even more excited for what to come. It is a shame the series is about to go one a few month hiatuses but if it means keeping the quality as good then it is worth it.
The artwork remains strong and the coloring used in one page, in particular, gives off a very interesting look. The artwork itself continues to have a strong mixture of heart and also the dark horror undertones the series has been becoming known for. The writing itself is shown to be strong as well and perfectly complements the artwork. The two blends to have possibly the strongest most heartbreaking panel in the entire series thus far. The primary story is cut off and is the shortest thus far as it is cut off to make way for some unrelated things full of whacky interludes and a finale that will make the long wait for the next issue even longer.
Should you get this book? Absolutely. You do not need to have read the first three issues for any context for the primary story in this issue, but for the overall book, it will help. This should not only be made for horror fans but also people wanting a strong story about humans and our fears over loss. Loss is an overlying theme for this issue and the biggest thing about loss I felt is when the story ends, and I cannot help but think how long the wait will be for the next issue, Do not worry though, the first trade is coming with the first four issues. Four issues are very minimal for a trade but as each issue tells its own story, and each issue being so strong, it is a trade with more to tell than most other trades. This review is for issue 4 and saying it stands along with the previous three issues is one of the strongest compliments that this issue can get. You have to trust in this series that each issue is a new flavor, all different, and flavors that get better with each taste.
Score 4/5
Ice Cream Man #4
Image Comics