Reviewer: Andy Campbell
Story Title: Ring of Truth (chapter 4)
Written by: Brian K. Vaughan
Penciled by: Pia Guerra
Inked by: Jose Marzan, Jr.
Colored by: Zylonol
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Cover by: Massimo Carnevale
Assistant Editor: Casey Seijas
Editor: Will Dennis
Publisher: Vertigo > DC Comics
Y: The Last Man is one of those books that is always heavy on exposition. Not that it’s low on action or anything, because it certainly isn’t. I suppose it’s because there’s a lot to learn while traveling cross-country as the last surviving male on earth.
The main parts of this issue see Yorick learning from Dr. Mann why he survived the plague that killed all the men, and also the return of Hero and Yorick’s subsequent reaction to seeing his sister again. The problem with reviewing a book like Y is that to go too much into detail on the plot would be to give too much away. To just give away the plot in a play-by-play commentary would be a disservice to Brian K. Vaughan, whose expository skills are nothing short of tremendous. It would also be a disservice to you, the reader, in that you would gain a lot more from reading the book yourself. And believe me, I HIGHLY recommend that you do just that. What started off as a cool concept has turned into must-read material month in, month out, with cliffhangers that leave you foaming at the mouth for next month to arrive and arrive NOW.
Guerra and Marzan’s art is great, as always. Guerra has a real knack for capturing facial expressions perfectly, and Marzan’s inks lend the perfect complement of depth and shading to Guerra’s signature style. This book looks good, to say the least.
I really can’t recommend this book enough. A friend of mine hadn’t read comics since the Batman: Knightfall event, and this was the comic I pointed him to when he wanted to get back in the mix. I suggest that you get in the Y mix.
