Early this month, Boom! Studios launched a new five-issue miniseries titled Mosely. The limited series focuses on its titular character as he fights to free the world from the grip of the so-called Tech Gods and free humanity from their grip. This week, the story reached a new peak in its penultimate issue as Mosley faces the Tech God, Atum in his quest to save humanity. The story in question in this issue is at the center of the issue’s interest. It will be examined shortly. The artwork presented in the 20-page-plus issue adds to the interest in its own way. It will be examined a little later. The bonus content (of sorts) included with the issue rounds out its most important items and will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the new issue. All things considered they make Mosely Issue #4 another interesting chapter in Boom! Studios’ latest limited series.
Mosely Issue #4 is a largely successful addition to what is one of Boom! Studios’ latest limited series. Its appeal comes in part through its featured story. Here in the series’ penultimate issue, Mosely faces off against the third of the Tech Gods so-called “Triad” in an effort to save his daughter Ruby. That is because she had been kidnapped by Atum. Readers learn through the pair’s discussion that Atum’s aim is to essentially wipe out mankind by placing every human’s consciousness into a digital realm and in turn leaving their physical bodies behind. If that sounds familiar, it should, considering readers (and audiences in general) already saw something quite similar in the Matrix movie franchise. Keeping that in mind, this diabolical plot is not exactly the most original, but considering that humans today are so connected already to all things electronic and digital, it is still believable to a point.
Mosely manages to defeat Atum, obviously (thanks to some help from Ruby). The thing of it here is that it seems like Atum’s defeat happens so quickly and conveniently. It feels like there is no real major buildup to the confrontation and Atum’s eventual defeat. It all just feels a bit too convenient. Of course, considering that the series runs only five issues, lead writer Rob Guillory maybe only had but so much space to use to make the story advance. To his defense, if that was the case, then the quick outcome makes some more sense. That Mosely is ultimately reunited with Ruby and his wife, the trio taking the next and final step to completely defeating the Tech Gods gives things a nice closure of sorts before next issue’s ultimate finale. How Mosely has to finally put that last proverbial nail in the coffin will be left for readers to discover for themselves. Overall, the story featured in this issue does well to help continue what started early this year while also offering new readers just as good a jumping on point. That is especially the case since those new readers would only have three other issues to read in order to get caught up. Keeping that in mind, the foundation formed by Issue #4 is relatively stable.
Building on that foundation is the artwork presented throughout the issue. Crafted by the team of Sam Lofti, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and Andrew Thomas, the issue’s art offers its own share of interest. Mosely’s entrance scene, which shows him riding in on his rocket (of sorts), giant glowing hammer in hand, is a prime example of the importance of the art. The use of the coloring as the rocket blasts through the sky makes for such a great contrast. That red and orange against the darker color of the sky does so well to really put the focus on Mosely, in turn, giving him that great sort of superhero entrance.
Later as Ruby starts to literally split right in front of Atum, that single frame is even more an example of the importance of the issue’s art. Her dissection (of sorts) is the result of Atum’s plan. It is creepy to say the least, but there is something about the display that makes one think it would make for such a cool special effect if it were on screen. The definition of the lines in the two halves of Ruby’s head and the way her head is shown separating from her body as part of the process makes this frame such a powerful moment in the story. There is a certain softness in the lines and the colors that adds to that sense.
As the battle between Mosely and Atum progresses, there is a moment at which Atum think he has defeated Mosely, but Mosely has in fact survived Atum’s attack. Mosely’s hammer shines brightly as he takes the familiar defiant superhero stance. The energy literally resonates from the hammer all around him as he prepares to finish off Atum once and for all. The use of the yellows and the shading and lines used in Mosely’s design makes this single frame another powerful, lone moment. The richness of the colors and the general design here makes it another great example of the art done right. When it and the other moments examined here are considered with the rest of the issue’s art, the overall artistic presentation gives audiences even more to appreciate in this issue. Together with the story, the two items collectively make this issue a solid new presentation in this brief, limited series. They are only part of what makes the issue worth reading. The bonus content that accompanies the issue rounds out its most important elements.
The bonus content in question comes in the form of a bonus story. The bonus story only spans four pages, but in that limited space, it does well to help set the stage for the story that is Mosely. The series’ other three issues each have their own bonus story, too, and collectively, they create their own unique sort of prequel with the main story, essentially giving audiences that much more story. In doing this, there is no need for a future, separate prequel series. The whole thing is featured together in this and the other issues, making the issue’s price all the more worth paying. Keeping this in mind, the bonus content featured with the fourth issue of Mosely proves just as important to the overall reading experience in this issue as the issue’s primary content and the story’s artwork. All things considered they make this new issue its own welcome addition to this limited series and ensures readers will want to pick up the series’ finale.
The brand-new fourth issue of Boom! Studios’ limited series, Mosely, is an interesting entry in the short-run story. Its appeal comes in part through its featured story. The story makes for a relatively good jumping on point for new readers considering the setup in the opening pages. Even as the issue’s story progresses, readers will not be left feeling out of the loop if they have not read the series’ first three issues, though it would help readers to have at least some grip on those stories first, regardless. The artwork exhibited throughout the issue offers its own interest, what with the color balances used in each frame. The general look established in the design of each character and background makes for its own share of appeal, too. That includes some familiar superhero-type battle scenes and stances. The issue’s bonus story, which helps set the stage for this limited series’ overall story, round out the issue’s most important elements. Together with the bonus stories offered in Issues 1-3, the bonus enriches the overall story all the more. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of this issue. All things considered they make the fourth issue of Mosely another largely successful entry in this limited series from Boom! Studios.
Mosely Issue #4 is available now through Boom! Studios. More information on this issue and the overall story is available along with information on all of Boom! Studios titles at:
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