Red Roots #4
Writer & Artist: Lorenzo De Felici
Design: Drew Gill
Lettering: Rus Wooton
Red Roots #4 is the first issue in this limited series to spend dedicated time establishing its core worldbuilding. The entire book focuses on explaining the mechanics of the realm, detailing how such a diverse array of creatures ended up here, clarifying the nature of the enemies fought in issue #3, and outlining the methods for escape. While resolving these foundational questions, the narrative retains its primary secret and introduces an intriguing new mystery.
An exposition-heavy issue was precisely what the series needed at this stage. However, the execution falls somewhat flat, relying almost entirely on heavy dialogue exchanges that can feel draining even for invested readers.
The issue opens with Sand having a vision of a mysterious person with a photograph aboard a plane, serving as a brief callback to his revenge-driven backstory established in issue #1. Kate wakes him, fully healed from his injuries, and together they meet the first human in the area, a guide named Itsari. She provides the necessary context for their surroundings.
They discover they are far from Earth, brought to this world specifically by the Red Roots to fight in a war against the Muted. The Muted are the realm's indigenous inhabitants, depicted as silent, savage beasts that slaughtered every previous group summoned by the Roots. As the summoned populations grew, the survivors managed to fight back and build a permanent settlement called The Dam.
The war continues every day, with every battle ending in a stalemate. This constant deadlock creates the impression that the war's true objective is not victory, but perpetual conflict.
This dynamic explains Sand’s presence in this world. As a soldier pulled away right before his death, he was specifically recruited by the Red Roots to fight in this endless war.
They also discover that the only way to escape this realm is by obtaining a seed from the Red Roots. Biting into the seed returns a traveler home. However, receiving one is rare; more often, creatures plead at the Tree’s opening by listing their daily accomplishments, only to be met with silence.
These developments deepen the series' primary mystery. Issue #1 established that Kate was never chosen by the Red Roots. Instead, she was kidnapped by Grit, who claimed she possessed something belonging to him. This raises key questions: What is Kate’s secret, what does Grit want from her, and how does Grit traverse realms on his own without the assistance of the Roots?
The issue concludes at a nighttime feast where Kate and Sand finally introduce themselves to one another. Their conversation is interrupted when Sand is branded on his back as part of a bonding ritual for soldiers. The subsequent scene, where the other soldiers take Sand away to celebrate, works well to build a sense of camaraderie and add depth to the world.
With Sand pulled away to drink with the other soldiers, only Grit and Kate remain. They exchange a few brief words before Kate downs a tankard of drink that knocks her unconscious.
"Tomorrow will be a great day. Tomorrow I will learn your secret," Grit whispers to the sleeping Kate. These final words of the penultimate issue deliver a promising hook, setting up long-awaited answers to the core questions raised in the very first issue.
Lorenzo De Felici answers the foundational questions raised in the opening issue, though it comes at the cost of making this chapter feel like a series of speed bumps leading into the finale. Introducing Itsari as an exposition-heavy guide stands out as the most direct method to deliver worldbuilding quickly, yet arriving in the fourth installment of a five-issue run makes the reveal feel somewhat unearned. Holding back critical context only to dump it all at once creates an experience similar to a museum tour, rushing from one artifact to the next without giving readers time to digest the information. Distributing these details across issues #2 and #3 would have created a smoother narrative pace, even if it meant sacrificing some of the early ambiguity. Ultimately, this issue functions as a necessary evil to set up the climax.
His artwork remains remarkably tight in both inks and colors. The vistas of the town are visually appealing and thoughtfully constructed; the buildings vary in shape and tone, coexisting without blending together into a monotonous background. This design choice effectively conveys that the city was not built by a single culture, but rather formed as a melting pot of different species and worlds. The technical quality and attention to detail remain consistently high across the entire series, maintaining a steady, reliable standard from issue to issue.
Overall, Red Roots #4 establishes the core rules and fundamentals of its setting, freeing the final issue to focus on resolving original mysteries and subverting established expectations. However, this clarity comes at a cost: the chapter feels more like mandatory homework for the finale than an engaging standalone experience. The exposition lacks the creative spark needed to make the info-dump truly captivating, leaving the sense that the series is saving its best moments for last.