Comic Review: Stronghold #4

Stronghold #4

Aftershock

Writer: Phil Hester

Artist: Ryan Kelly

Issue #4 of Stronghold brings the focus back to the characters, without taking too much away from the series’ grand cosmic narrative. Claire finally reunites with the captive Michael, who’s been imprisoned by Stronghold, the organization that worships him. They’ve put the amnesiac god in a device that forces him through multiple lifetimes. It’s one of the most inventive elements of this series, as the art and writing present a fate that’s appropriately mundane but still hellish. Michael’s reaction to this ordeal is also very believable, as well as fleshing out his godly and more human attributes. This issue also finally reunites him with Claire, the one who freed him in the first place.

As I mentioned in previous reviews for Stronghold, the series is at its best when it’s focusing on Claire and Michael’s interactions. Thankfully this issue features more of them than any previous ones. When the pair are together, the book’s able to explore its central conflicts and setting in a much more organic way. Additionally, it’s just an interesting and in many ways unsettling dynamic. I do hope the book elaborates a bit more on Claire’s motivations for risking the end of the world by helping Michael. They can be inferred at this point but that’s a decision-making process that has a lot of story potential. Otherwise, the book is going in a solid direction, at least in terms of characterization.

I will say that Stronghold still has a bit of an issue with how it builds up a threat. The Stronghold are a great antagonistic force, controlling the very world Michael and Claire are trying to hide in. However, the Holdmother is a serviceable villain but not a particularly interesting one. Stronghold‘s issues with adversaries become even more apparent with the introduction of a bounty hunter working for Stronghold, who helps set up the cliffhanger ending. The progression from well-meaning anti-christ to sci-fi mercenary reflects one of this series’ few real weaknesses.

Ryan Kelly’s art has a good showing in Stronghold #4, though it’s not entirely without its faults. His inventive layouts are put to good use. Particularly when conveying the multiple lifetimes Michael endures while captured by Stronghold. Through some clever tricks, he puts a supernatural spin on some fairly uninteresting subjects. However, the faces look pretty strange this issue and I feel there are generally some consistency problems all around. There’s also a considerable time skip at one point that and neither the writing or the art properly conveys. Aside from that, Stronghold is still putting in a great effort each issue.