Rex Mundi #4
	Story Title: 'The Eye of The Shepherdess' Writer: Arvid Nelson Art, Colors & Cover: Juan Ferreyra Letterer: Arvid Nelson Editor: Scott Allie & Mike Carriglitto Published by: Dark Horse Comics 'Rex Mundi' created by Arvid Nelson & Ericj
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

Y’know the one thing I don’t like about Rex Mundi? Well apart from my still catching up on its back story, is that it doesn’t make for an easy review. This is not because there is something wrong or lacking in it, both in the writing and the art department, but rather because there isn’t any. There is just so damn much going on in every single issue that I have to literally wrack my brain to insanity for both making my review informative and at the same time keep the spoilers to within acceptable levels (‘cause gawd knows it just isn’t possible to do away with them). Anyways, here I am again, after a break (read but did not review last issue), and boy-oh-boy was this issue a ‘happening’ one or what?!

As with the last issue, the Julien-Genevieve ‘Holy Grail’ plot gets the most screen time, with the Duke of Lorraine (and his daughter) playing their parts with relatively minor appearances. While the Duke is jubilant over what Genevieve has discovered for him (through her spying on Julien), Isabelle, his daughter completes her appearance in with much more intimate engagement. Now whether this is the one her true feelings like this, or whether she is playing this particular suitor/man or maybe both, well, that is a mystery for a future issue.

With the main focus being on Julien and by association on Genevieve and the ‘kindly but eccentric’ old woman, Aleron, there is a lot going on that involves them. Ending last issue by rushing to try and pin-point the location of the all important tomb, they start of this one by working towards that target. Spending the whole day poring over maps accumulated by Aleron and Father Marin, they are finally able to get to the ‘X marks the stop’ point in their search. What remains now is just the physical trek to the tomb, which might or might not be underwater (depending on the season). Moreover, thanks to Aleron’s powers/magic she is able to sense the danger nearby, i.e. the man in white from last issue, the one shown on the last page, with who Genevieve was talking to in the confessional box. Adopting the cautious approach, Aleron puts the trek off till after dark. As for what happens next, well, that I’ll leave for the readers to find out, after all, I think I have spoiled enough of the story as it is.

Four issues into this new Rex Mundi series (the entirety of its run on Dark Horse), and with one artist handling the visual half in all of them, not only has there been a consistency to the character portrayals, behaviors and mannerisms, there has also been a steady improvement overall. What I mean by this is that not only does he ‘get’ the characters, artist Juan Ferreyra also seems to getting in the groove with them, growing more at ease. Hence, while I found the character ‘full body shots’ (standing, walking etc.) a bit wooden at time in the earlier issues, there is no such awkwardness here. All I can say, I hope that Juan continues Mundi-ing for quite some time, heck, the entire remaining story.

Conclusion: Man, Julien and his magic. When he is not working it on the ladies, he’s testing his hands on the real thing. I only hope that his luck with the real stuff is better than it is with the ladies. At least, he finally seems to be getting some inkling of Genevieve and her spying ways.

RATING: 8.5/10