Comic Book Confidential 3

Hey guys!

It's been a while, but I'm back to talk about a comic that Socko recently brought to my attention: Sam Keith's Four Women. This is a book that I just tore through and really dug. I went in not knowing much about the plot and having no preconceived notions about it, and I was blown away. So in order to give everyone who decides to check this book out the same privilege, I'm not going to say much about the plot. No "spoiler alert" or anything like that. The main character, Donna, is telling the story of a road trip she took with her three friends, all women of different ages and personalities. For lack of a better description, some seriously messed up shit happens when their car breaks down, that tests both their willpower and their friendship, and everyone must deal with the consequences. While not being a "horror" comic, it was suspenseful and scary as hell. It's a story that makes you question what you would do in the same situation, as all the characters react differently, and not necessarily in ways you would expect. The story has many jumps and twists that don't feel cheap at all and it's frighteningly realistic.

The other great thing about Four Women is how Sam Keith utilizes his art to tell the story. He makes what is happening usually unclear, so you have to do some work to sometimes understand everything that is going on. This, coupled with the shocks in the story, make for a really exciting read. I can't remember the last time I was on the edge of my seat while reading a comic. This is also due to the excellent pacing of the book; Keith is a great storyteller. So if you're looking for something truly affecting and suspenseful, I can't recommend Four Women enough. Everyone at CBJ listened to me rave about it already, so now you can give them an earful too.

That's all for this installment of Comic Book Confidential. See you all at Comic Book Jones!
Slacksy