SPOILERS AHEAD
Initial Thoughts
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #4 brought us the showdown between Ezra Cain and Hans Huber and the Brutal Dark, with the balance of New York and the world at stake. Writer Chris Condon and artist Jacob Phillips gave us a very satisfying ending, with the door wide open for more potential stories in this fantastical world. Ezra Cain was written incredibly well, and in a way that never made him feel out of his depth, even though his face said otherwise. Phillips's art amplified the anxiety of the situation and made us relate to our would-be hero.
Hopefully this is only the start of what might become one of the most career-defining, genre-bending, and envelope-pushing series in the industry. The ending scene gave us a glimpse that this might not be the last we see of Cain in this world. The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery was so much fun, and I would continue to follow Ezra Cain around the world, stopping fascists from gaining supernatural powers. That is a recipe for success, and with Condon and Phillips at the helm, this series can be one of the best.
More Ezra Cain in the Future?
Ezra Cain did just enough to make sure that Hans Huber and the Brutal Dark did not use the Anzil Hephaestus to bring Nazi power to our shores. The fight between Ezra and Huber had been growing for the last six issues, and we got a satisfying climax to the story. But I think that more than just a scene of final fight, I think the most important aspect of the book and this series is Cain’s perseverance to keep fighting the good fight. He technically did not stop the Nazis himself; however, his persistent spirit to keep shooting at the blimp caused a domino effect.
A big part of this issue that I won't go unmentioned is the reveal of other supernaturally blessed --possibly cursed-- items around the natural world. We were barely abel to avoid a catastrophe in New York, and who is to say this won't happen at other major cities around the world? The Ezra Cain Mysteries can grow into a fully fleshed franchise, and the world that writer Chris Condon and writer Jacon Phillips created can be continued and extended into something that surpasses what we think of in the Vertigo universe. So as much as I like that this is a self-contained story, the prospect of it being much bigger makes me happy.
Nazi’s Lose Again
Nazis getting their limbs blown off will always make me smile- fictitiously speaking, of course. So that will certainly be the peak for me, not only of this issue but of the series. I think their demise coming at their own hands is the perfect ending to their threat and a great ode to the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Luckily, Ezra did enough to keep the pressure on the Brutal Dark to make mistakes that caused their downfall. The greed of man for power will, in the end, become fruitless, as human nature tends to correct itself. Well, at least in fiction.
I don't think this is the last we see of the Brutal Dark, as, by every indication from this book, WWII still happened in this universe. If we do come back and revisit this universe, it's safe to assume that we will hear from the Brutal Dark once again. They won't take this lightly and will look for revenge. But for now, Ezra got the upper hand, saving New York and what would have been the rest of the country from a Nazi offensive.
Jacob Phillips was Born for this Story
Jacob Phillips ended The Peril of the Brutal Dark as he started it: with a bang. His art was high art in The Peril of the Brutal Dark #4, setting the issue’s anxious tone as Cain rides through the sky and settles into the peaceful final scene. I adore the contrast between the colors used for peacetime and battle. Pastel colors mark quieter times, and bright, hot, blinding colors drive the action. The best example is the fire hell inside the blimp, as I mentioned in my last review. I sweated just reading it, and it's not because my town is 109 degrees right now.
What Jacob Phillips has done with the landscape and New York as a character was genius. As the reader, you always know where this is taking place, so you never have to second-guess it. It will be exciting to see how other major colors around the world take form if this series continues. I can't imagine another artist filling in this world, as Phillips continues to be Condon's comic book soul mate.
Final Verdict
The Peril of the Brutal Dark #4 was a fantastic ending to a fantastic series. Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips created a world that only got more interesting as the series moved along and the plot thickened. The elements and genres that seemed so far away at the beginning of the series came together fantastically and left the reader wanting more. Ezra Cain can become this generation's great detective as The Peril of the Brutal Dark proved he can take up that mantle. The door was left wide open for a potential return to this world, and I would love to see what Condon and Phillips come up with!