Comic Book Review: Pantomime #4
By Rebecca Benson
Pantomime #4 from Mad Cave Studios is out now! And what great timing as I was wondering how our team’s saga was going to play out–and yes, pun intended.
What seems like an ordinary move-out day for our now college-age group of criminal friends and family has morphed into an unforeseen circumstance. No, things aren’t always what they seem. Some loose ends are tied up, friendships ebb and flow, siblings are becoming more and more absent, even behaving unusually strange. This issue serves as a great setup for what’s to come, focusing on chronicling Haley’s life events that lead up to where we left off in Issue #3. But don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything.
What sets this issue apart from the others–kudos to Christopher Sebela–is that the story utilizes more narration. But don’t get me wrong, it is far from boring. It serves as a perfect way to keep the story going. We, readers, delve deeper into Haley’s recounting of past events. Letterer Justin Birch has made sure that readers are aware of what was once dialogue and what is being journaled. The usage of idyllic colors and scenery by Artist David Stoll has given the readers an illusion of normalcy. Colorist Dearbhla Kelly lends a hand in keeping that edginess in the story, with the uncomfortable feeling that everything is too ‘normal’; this is expertly achieved with a rendition of a photo album in a two-page spread. With Max and Haley slowly drifting away and going down their different paths, alliances–and romances–are starting to form within the clique. Which leads to the question we all are asking and are waiting (albeit impatiently) to find out: what in the world will happen next?
Be sure to order your pick-up your copy at your local comic bookstore!
Rating: FOUR Pastrami Nations out of FIVE.
Rebecca Benson currently resides in the mountains of California. A mother of one daughter, she has a love for pop culture, with a knack for Disney, Harry Potter, and is currently an educator for the hearing impaired. An avid reader, she jumped deeper into the world of comic books in 2020, with her interest piqued in the independent scene.