Defiance is a twelve-issue story, all told, but it's told in four-issue arcs, so this issue is the end of the story in some respects. It's got a couple big surprises, plenty of cinematic action and the usual beautiful artwork, and it finishes up in fine style. Barre's sense of humor comes through in the witty banter of the characters, and Kang and Suh take advantage of their unlimited special effects budget to depict a real throwdown between the agents of Hell.
This story began in Hell and moved to Earth, but it has maintained its Hellish appearance and tone. While the artwork features high-tech armor and weapons, it's pretty clear that this story is detached from the everyday reality of average New Yorkers. Instead, this issue is all about a confrontation between Satan and his agents and the agents of the rebellious Syrus, and that puts a heavy emphasis on the action. That action is beautifully rendered by Kang and Suh, who have no problems with the gore and mutagenic abilities of the demons or with the more explosive consequences that unfold at the end.
It was the artwork that first caught my attention in Defiance, and I'm still pretty impressed. The painted look of the book makes it stand out, and the colors, heavy on bright blues and greens and reds, are vivid and eye-catching as well. There's also a nice element of the monstrous in the designs of the characters, both protagonist and antagonist, and some of the more shocking moments in this issue rely on the twisted appearances that Kang and Suh give the characters.
However, it's not just the artwork that interests me in Defiance. Barre is doing some nice work foreshadowing the importance of the Messenger, and he nicely underplays the relationship between the two leads. I also really like the banter between the heroes and villains, which is right in line with the cheesy action movies I love so well. Barre also writes a surprisingly tender finish between the Messenger and Cleo, giving him a reason to continue on and providing a payoff to the bloodshed that is the heart of much of this issue.
"The Messenger" was a great opening arc for Defiance, starting off with a vivid depiction of Hell and rapidly escalating into plenty of action, a little exposition and solid characterization. It's the comic-book equivalent of a good action anime, pretty to look at and fun to enjoy, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
