Skye Runner #4: Two and a half months. That is how long it has been since I read (and reviewed) an issue of this series, and if the wait wasn’t long enough, now that it is finally out, #4 of this new Wildstorm series was…disappointing. The main reason for that? The art. Though still sporting pencils by Alé Garza, the inks and colors have seen a change, one that although trying to imitate the excellence of the previous issues, doesn’t quite hold up. It is a bit too rough and a bit too dark, and though these two things might work in another swords-n’-sorcery title, here they don’t. Even the story (and dialogue), which by itself is ‘expected’ enough, feels slow and tired…once again due to the art. Skye and her companion, Green Knight meet up with two new-entrants, Glyph and his sidekick and after the usual introductory fight, the four of them set about on their journey, only to have yet another (pointless) fight scene later on (in the city they stop at). The only thing that comes out about (of worth) happens on the last page and that too is mostly as a cliffhanger for the next issue. There are a few tidbits about Skye’s past (her father) and about the whereabouts of her niece and nephew, but nothing to write home…or here about.

Conclusion: I do hope that Richard Friend (inks) and Jim Charalampidis (colors) make a return to this title, and that I don’t have to wait yet another quarter for the next issue.

RATING: 6.5/10

Y, The Last Man #49: A rather laid-back issue, this one comes across as a much needed ‘rest’ after the heavy ALTERation of the previous one. Even the characters, namely Yorick and his friends (Agent 355, Dr. Mann, Agent Rose, and the monkeys Ampersand and Bonny) take a breather, one in which Rose finally wakes up, Mann tells 355 what she knows about Rose now i.e. about her being a secret agent, preparations are made for the next leg of Yorick’s (and the others) travels, and Mann’s worsening physical condition finally comes out in the open.....at a very inopportune time. There is also the case of Hero (Yorick’s sister) and her group of runaways, including two babies, one of them the male child Vladimir and the other Yorick and Beth II’s daughter, Beth Jr. While Hero and the others are fighting to get away, both from the Amazons and from the Israeli Armed forces, Yorick and Rose (and even 355) are experiencing ‘Hot Monkey Sex’, with the emphasis on Monkey. However, with the way Mann is and her impending death, it is highly circumstantial as to how the plans to bring back the males are going to play out.

Conclusion: The first of a new arc, this issue had the usual build up and for anyone looking to give a try to this series (even at this late a juncture), this is an ideal starting point.

RATING: 8/10 (Almost 8.5)