Black Cloak #4: Hungry Mermaids?

In Black Cloak #4 This creative team explores the waters of the lagoon while carefully pulling the layers back of Essex’s past. In the beginning of this issue, Thompson gives a very fun scene of the dynamic Black Cloak pair and their ally Sash. When speaking to Sirens to uncover more information it’s incredibly funny to see all the Sirens want to do is eat the Black Cloaks and are confused as to why they can’t immediately jump to that.

McClaren uses this issue to continue to demonstrate their phenomenal artistic skill. Just to be able to witness the range of color styles used primarily in the lagoon scene is beautiful. McClaren also shows range in expression of the mermaids that Essex and Pax encounter. The range of a mermaid being threatening to showing the group still in mourning is a fantastic artistic display. 

Later, there is a very sweet scene of Essex and Nida as they are in bed talking to each other. Thompson reveals to the audience a delicate flashback scene of Phae’s past and what really transpired that led her to exile. Phae reveals that the identity of her secret father is what led to her calling off the engagement and while this is the roughest decision she could bear she felt she had no choice otherwise. In revealing this story, the audience is able to see Essex being comforted after revealing her shocking past.

Throughout this issue Carey uses lettering in such a fun way for the reader to become more immersed into the story. It’s enjoyable to see the different color options for dialogue bubbles by the character and scene.