Comic Review: Bitter Root #9

Bitter Root #9

Image Comics

Writers: David F. Walker & Chuck Brown

Artist: Sanford Greene

Letters: Clayton Cowles

Bitter Root will hopefully not be forever timely. However, with protests around the US and the world sparking a global dialogue about racism, Bitter Root is timely now.

Everything’s gone to hell. There are new types of Jinoo. One that not even Ma Etta can save. Walter Sylvester runs from the demons of his past, his present, and his future. Blink and Enoch search for an alliance with other hunters. And Cullen, Berg, and Johnnie-Ray fight back tides of demons. This issue essential deals with four narrative arcs in a single issue. If that sounds like a lot, it is. However, the writers are able to provide narrative balance throughout, even with so many plotlines. While this would be confusing to a new reader, I have confidence in Chuck Brown and David F. Walker will tie the threads together in due time.

For an issue that flits around so much and deals with so many different characters, each one seems to get a fair bit of page space. Cullen gets a moment in the spotlight as the hothead he is, Johnnie-Ray makes friends with some quite, sharp-teethed rabbit creatures and shows his loyalty, while Walter Sylvester can’t escape his past. Blink takes the reigns from Enoch in terms of decision making because the old ways won’t work in the new era, and Ma Etta shows that being wise doesn’t always mean knowing. Again, this sounds like a lot to fit into 22 pages, yet it still feels cohesive.

This is a dynamic issue as far as art is concerned. The number of locations and distinct atmospheres, in general, feel unique and immersive. This is especially true in Walter Sylvester’s character thread. The world around him seems to smear like the blood that hasn’t dried on a scab, just as his pain hasn’t healed. The action panels are blurred spectacularly, and character design with cool, steampunk-esk gasmasks is just. . . cool. The pallet used is also atmospheric and never skips a beat.

While some of the panels feel a bit clustered with speech balloons, there’s simply no other way (that I can see) in getting the emotional aspects of the scenes played out. The sound effects are a high point, especially the sharp-teethed rabbit creatures Jonnie-Ray asks for help because anything that makes a *Squiit* sound is both adorable and fierce at the same time.

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