The story takes a couple of thoroughly entertaing twists and turns in its conclusion. Though this is a more of an action-oriented finale, characterization points come shining through in DeFillips and Weir's well crafted narrative captions. The art continues to elicit a sense of the gritty, detailed work that Steve Lieber brought to Oni Press hallmark Whiteout, but at the same time, the artists manage to bring an even greater depth that's appropriate to the urban setting.
It doesn't take long for Navajo tribal police officer Ana Adakai to figure out what skin FBI agent Brian Forsythe is wearing, but she does fail to pick up on another important element of the case: Forsythe isn't working alone. Meanwhile, Agent Greg Haworth is erroneously informed by one of his colleagues that Adakai has turned up as Forsythe's latest victim, leading up to a tense confrontation when the two law enforcement officials cross paths once again.
Though one can clearly see Hurtt's and Dela Cruz's own unique styles, I keep coming back to Lieber and Whiteout. The two stories have a lot in common, and it seems to me that it's possible that the artists might purposefully be trying to evoke the same kind of look that Lieber brought to the Antarctic mystery story. Here, though, the artists inject even greater levels of detail with grey tones and shading to the far busier world of Skinwalker. It wouldn't have worked on Whiteout, given its snowy setting, but it does here.
The writers take something of a stronger X-Files turn than I expected in this issue, but it works well, as the seeds were planted early on the book. It adds an unpredictability to an already volatile (and entertainingly so) story. The dialogue in the climactic scene in the deputy director's office is sharp, enabling the reader to share in the protagonists' frustration.
Ultimately, though, what makes this final issue worth reading is what drew me into the first issue, and that's characterization. Adakai's resourcefulness and no-nonsense attitude makes her an instantly admirable figure, and I enjoyed watching Haworth shed some of his naivete while remaining true to his calling as someone who upholds justice. The tone of the final few pages seems to indicate that a followup series might be possible, and I would welcome the chance to visit with these characters once again.
