Rasl v2: #5

The Fire of St. George
by Jeff Smith

Chapter 5 - Maya

This chapter seemed less confusing than the last one. Robert is blacking out at random times. He is also remembering things from his past. He remembers the Maya he knew from the top secret government research project they were working on together with her husband, Miles. He encounters the alternate universe Maya who works at a museum. Both are devoted to him, as is Annie. It is unclear or doubtful that the feeling is mutual.

Rasl v2: #4

The Fire of St. George
by Jeff Smith

Chapter 4 - Opening Doors

I'm intrigued but confused by this story. I feel lost. All sorts of information is being thrown at me but I'm not sure how to process it all. It doesn't all mesh well. The nature of reality is called into question and under dispute. Boundaries have yet to be established. It is all very confusing.

House of Mystery v5: #25

Exquisite Corpse

Part 1: Comes the Hunter, written by Bill Willingham
Part 2: The Heart's Filthy Lesson, written by Dave Justus
Part 3: The Pen Is Mightier..., written by Paul Levitz
Part 4: Heart and Soul, written by Alisa Kwitney
Part 5: A Pure and Noble Heart, written by Matthew Sturges

Art by Lucca Rossi (pencils), José Marzán, Jr (inker), and Lee Loughridge (colors)

Summary: All but one of the denizens of the House are killed, murdered by a newcomer to the House. Why did he do it? What is he after?

What a weird and welcome departure from the usual meandering storyline. At first glance this looked like it might be a collection of 4-6 page stories but it isn't. It's a done-in-one that takes place entirely within the House, notwithstanding a few a brief flashback or two.

House of Mystery is published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics

House of Mystery v5: #24

Under New Management
Part 4 of 4

by Matthew Sturges (writer), Luca Rossi (penciler), José Marzán, Jr (inker), and Lee Loughridge (colors)

The pace of the story seems glacially slow. This does not feel like a complete installment. It is all aftermath. Strawberry is dead and someone has to pay for it. The images are beautiful. It is a shame that the story doesn't rise to the same level.


Romantic Comedy (with Corpses)
by Matthew Sturges (writer) and John Bolton (artist)

The middle of this story was the best part. That's where it jumped the rails and seemed to be headed somewhere different. Unfortunately, in the end, it was very standard: girl meets boy, girl loses boy, girl gets boy back.

House of Mystery is published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics

House of Mystery v5: #23

Under New Management
Part 3 of 4

by Matthew Sturges (writer), Luca Rossi (penciler), José Marzán, Jr (inker), and Lee Loughridge (colors)

This chapter is a 'tweener. More information is provided but not much is resolved. Fig seems to admit to herself that Strawberry isn't lying about his identity but publicly maintains that she doesn't know him. The only other moment of interest is one that transpires between Cress and Poet, although it isn't entirely clear what was in that syringe.


Sucked In
by Matthew Sturges (writer) and Sam Kieth (artist)

This is a beautiful looking story which doesn't seem to have a purpose or a destination. That is mildly disappointing considering who the artist is.

House of Mystery is published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics

House of Mystery v5: #22

Under New Management
Part 2 of 4

by Matthew Sturges (writer), Luca Rossi (penciler), José Marzán, Jr (inker), and Lee Loughridge (colors)

A couple seeds are planted but most of this chapter is focused on the newcomer, Fig's brother, Strawberry. Whether he actually is her brother or nor not is unclear but he seems convinced of the fact.


Fig and Strawberry's Adventure in the Cloud Kingdom
by Matthew Sturges and Farel Darymple

This is the story that Strawberry tells Fig, in his attempt to jog her memory. It doesn't come across as entirely convincing, aside from the fact that it does sound and look like the sort of story a child might tell. As with many of the side-stories in this series, this one just seems to be getting started when it ends.

House of Mystery is published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics

House of Mystery v5: #21

Under New Management
Part 1 of 4

by Matthew Sturges (writer), Luca Rossi (penciler), José Marzán, Jr (inker), and Lee Loughridge (colors)

Fig and the others, but mostly Fig, cope with the changes to the management and location of the House. The main characters (Fig, Cress, Cain, Ann, Jordan) seem more more peripheral in this chapter. They are in the story but for once they don't seem to be the ones that the camera is focused on. Instead it focuses on a newcomer, a cowboy, Blind Buck.

Rossi and Marzán do possibly their best work to date on this series. Although the backgrounds are sometimes spare to nonexistent the foregrounds, especially the facial expressions, are very expressively illustrated. As always Loughridge does an outstanding job with the colors.


Abomination
by Matthew Sturges (writer) and Sergio Arragones (artist)

Blind Buck tells a story from his past. Nothing much goes on here. It is a nice showcase for Arragones art but there isn't much else to this four-pager.

House of Mystery is published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics