This comic has been one that I really love sometimes and hate at other times. It has led me on a journey into the great unknown, dazzling me with interesting curiosities, incredible suspense, and foreboding danger. Only to bail everybody out in the end with a lackluster defeat of the bad things. The first story arc saw me go on a roller coaster that ended with me getting stuck and desperately wanting more. I was about ready to let it go altogether, it made me that mad. But then issue seven started in and gave me a little bit of hope. It was well done and returned to the formula that had worked for it when it was good. Still though, there were obstacles thrown into our crew’s way, but nothing of the dire and deadly nature that we had seen earlier. I was still a little bit skeptical.
All I had to do was to look at the cover of issue eight however and I realized that things were getting ready to change. Issue eight actually may be the most interesting issue to date in this young series as we not only get the peril that is needed, we soon discover that there are some creatures out there that might just be as bad as some of the strange and peculiar species within the unexplored Louisiana Territory. And they wear uniforms and speak English no less. Yes things are intense here, people die, and there is much trouble awaiting our expedition in all shapes and blood sucky sizes. I actually can't wait for the next one to come out again.
Chris Dingess has returned back to a solid writing style, hitting the action in the issue with intermittent Lewis journal entries that make for a compelling read as the party is split into two due to an unexpected stranding of the boat. Clark is working on getting things moving, but he must deal with a rather unsavory critter that seems to want to make him and his men a meal. They can escape to the land, but within that land lays a deep forest that may have some other unforeseen nasties ready to do them in too. Add some character flaws within the crew (one stupid, one sinister) and you get quite a sweet issue to read.
Matthew Roberts hasn’t had a bad issue that I have seen. He has stood head and shoulders high with an impressive depiction of events of a historical and mythological nature, blended together in a milkshake of tasty reading. It has been with Dingess where the ups and downs lie.
This time though, things are set up for an epic go. I am hoping... no, I am praying that when things do get resolved in upcoming issues that we actually get a solid outcome and not a weak dismissal of some serious baddies. Bring it man and get it done. I know you got it in you. This issue is proof of that.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Chris Dingess Artist: Matthew Roberts Publisher: Image/Skybound Entertainment Price: $2.99 Release Date: 7/16/14 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital