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KISSING CHAOS #4
Recommended (8/10)
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Oni Press
Writer/Artist: Arthur Dela Cruz
Editor: Jamie S. Rich
Price: $2.25 US |
As this limited series reaches its halfway point, the plotlines start to come into focus. We learn a lot more about Angela and Raveyn, and it makes for some great reading. Since the focus is on revelation, there's not quite as much of the vague, moody atmosphere that we've come to expect, but just as much personality and empathy.
The trio of teen runaways -- Damien, Angela and Raveyn -- make another pit stop along their American trek, and from out of nowhere, one of the people from whom Raveyn stole shows up to confront her and get his stuff back. Meanwhile, Angela remains in her dreamworld, determined to find something pure and good to help her forget betrayal at the hands of a loved one. Finally, Damien stands revealed before his companions.
This issue is all about secrets being revealed. The reader finds out what Raveyn's done and why she's on the run. Angela also lets the reader in on her dark secret. Damien may not be as responsive to her amorous intentions as is required by her fantasies, but he at least seems to treat her better than her father, if her daydream flashback is any indication. These revelations are somewhat ironic, as the characters themselves know so little about one another. Only one secret is revealed to the players -- that Damien stands accused of killing someone, and we still don't know that whole story.
The greater focus in plot and character brings with it a greater degree of clarity to the art as well. It's obvious that Dela Cruz was obfuscating before, and he's slowly lifting the haze to bring the reader further into the odd world of these three teens. Even the sketchier tone of the art seems to fade, giving way to a greater sense of definition. Intentional or not, it's some clever visual storytelling.
Raveyn continues to stand out as my favorite character. Though her confidence and smartass attitude -- whether they're an emotional front or not -- may not be to Damien's or Angela's liking, they never fail to make me smile. Oddly enough, the most everyday of the characters, Damien, is the one about which we know the least. We know what he's accused of doing, but we don't know him yet. I expect further answers await in the second half of the series.
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