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Published by: Oni Press
Released on: Nov. 5, 2014
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Brian Hurtt
Cover artist: Brian Hurtt
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The time to attack is now. Drake, Becky, and Screaming Crow/Nidawi have ridden the giant Thunderbirds straight to the no name town where Griselda the Grey Witch hides out with her snake-skinned posse. And you know who else is there with Griselda: that's right, it's the maniacal, vengeance-driven Jesup armed with all six guns. The old witch has exactly what she needs to destroy the world so it may be yet again reborn, and she can sleep while that's happening. The seal that requires the six guns in order to be broken is close by her and the guns are in her possession, so what's stopping her from breaking that seal open? She needs some special lube first.
The trio attack from the air, and those down below have an air force of sorts of their own, that being very large bats the snake-men can ride on. They aren't entirely effective against the great and powerful birds, but they certainly are pests for the Thunderbirds to have to contend with. Then there's the rain, and the lightning strikes, and of course Jesup is firing endlessly at them. The three Thunderbirds have a lot to deal with, but they owe Drake Sinclair a favor and remain birds of their word. The air strike makes it to the ground, with Becky and Drake looking for the seal they know is in town somewhere; the seal that the six guns will break once the seal is oiled. Their search ends when they find the seal and they are shocked and appalled at what is being used to grease that puppy up.
The entire issue is the battle and told entirely through narration, with not one word balloon in sight. As the narration lays down all the high points of what has happened and what's going on, the artwork tells the story of the battle itself. It's an incredibly effective to recap what's been happening up to this point, and where things are going while keeping things exciting at the same time. The way the panels are laid out is also a great way accentuate the action and the speed in which events occur, and all with a real sense of drama. Brian Hurtt's pages start with four long panels per page, then up to 8 square panels, then to 12 panels, then 16, then back down to 12, then 8, then the four. It really gives serious energy to the book and makes for one heck of an issue. Latch on now if you haven't already. Bunn & Hurtt deliver a fantastic comic.
