Reviewer: Mathan “I’m Glad One Survived” Erhardt
Story Title: Cruxes
Written by: Steve Gerber
Penciled by: Brian Hurtt
Inked by: Rick Burchett
Lettered by: Pat Brosseau
Colored by: Wildstorm FX
Editor: Joan Hilty
Publisher: DC Focus/DC Comics
The issue begins where the last issue ended, with Ethan napping on the yard and getting pummeled by fellow prisoners while his inner force roamed around. The inner force returns, Ethan regains consciousness, and licks his wounds. Ethan returns to his cell, where his cellmate Curly frets because he’s just lost computer lab privileges.
A week later Ethan’s mom and lawyer share dinner. Then Ethan’s lawyer proposes to his young clients mother. Unfortunately we don’t get to hear her reply.
We return back to prison where Ethan prints out some emails from Curly’s granddaughter to give him Curly. Being the go-between has caused Rose and Ethan to grow close. Ethan also informs Curly that she plans on visiting. Curly panics and goes to get a haircut. Ethan than bumps into Mullins, who knows of Ethan’s ability. Mullins gives Ethan a comic book that has “clues” to how Ethan’s power works.
Later Ethan and Alyssa, one of the students present when Ethan and his friend attacked their school, share the same dream. Alyssa is then visited by her former boyfriend, who as forced into a wheelchair as a result of the attack. Alyssa is in a delicate mental state, and he’s not too considerate. Things don’t go well.
Ethan goes to visit Mullins, but is put off by the Mullin’s eccentricity.
A couple of nights later, as retribution for Turo’s (a Latino gang member in prison with Ethan) role in the death of an Aryan, an Aryan on the outside attacks Turo’s pregnant girlfriend. She survives the attack, but she’s traumatized.
The next day Rose visits Ethan and Curly. They both vie for her attention. Turo also gets a visitor, who informs him of the attack on his girl. Turo responds in kind. He gathers a group of fellow prisoners and they attack and kill two Aryan prisoners, who were responsible for the hit.
That night Curly tells Ethan to stay away from his granddaughter. Later Ethan’s other self visits with Mullins. The End.
Gerber balances the violence in this issue with some humor. The attack on Turo’s girl is frightening to read, but Curly and Ethan jockeying for Rose’s attention is hilarious. The development of the characters on this title is really well done. Turo has fleshed out from the early issues, as has Curly. This book’s three-dimensional cast is one of its greatest assets, along with the recap page.
Hurtt continues to provide excellent visuals. Burchett’s inks don’t detract from Hurtt’s style one bit. The dream sequence is very well done, creating an otherworldly feel to the pages. The image of the mangled Aryan corpses on page 21 is perfectly done, not too graphic, but you still get the idea.
