Review: Crashing #4 (of 5)

Reading this book, I am struck by two different aspects of life. One, people make bad choices with the best of intentions and the second, people do the same thing over and expect different results. In this dark tale of powers, relationships and addiction, these two elements circle Rose like vultures sensing a dying but tasty meal in the desert.

Rose is doing some circling, though if truth be told, spiralling may be more accurate, of her own. She has lost her home, her husband and the secret of her actions leading to Don and Rose meeting are looking to overwhelm her. Surely a pill per problem isn’t the way to go, yet Rose falls back past choices, expecting something different. Throw in the mix a parent who betrays the first fundamental rule of being a father and you have a book that is cause, cause, more cause, a little more cause with a tad of respect thrown in for good measure!

In a book like this there is a temptation to give the character too many problems to deal with. Whilst there is an adage that states “life doesn’t give you more than you can deal with”‘ writer Matthew Klein treads a thin line between these ideas, perhaps leaning into the two many problems element which generates the Rose’s need of pills. In this issue, Klein also hints at the reason Rose has an addiction. I missed the first issue of this run, so if her full origin is in that book I apologise. I was impressed by Klein’s hint at what created the addiction, subtly advising of a failed parental element. With the powered argument raging and the treatment of both villains and heroes acting as the match in the tinderbox, Klein has to be careful not to end the book in a way that feels disingenuous to the main Rose arc. The dialogue in this issue is a terse affair, reflective of where Rose is in all aspects of her life.

The art from Morgan Beem is still both cartoony and chaotic in natures. This perfectly fits the ER and the emergency service elements along with the more abstract ramifications of Rose’s pill popping. The page designs are creative, ranging from small numerous panels, to pages that feature a panel as a main theme that reflects in smaller panels. The facial elements convey enough emotion, keeping the style of the work intact. The colors from Triona Farrell continue to demonstrate brighter than expected colors at times, juxtaposed against a very dark world, which reflects the idea that for Rose everything in her day to day, that should be classed is normal, is tainted by the pill she uses. Hassan Otsmane-Elhauo continues with his two pronged font work, whilst also adding in textures to imply illness or sickness along with some very heightened emotions.

Issue 4 is the wrong book to use as jump in point. Rose’s story may have started small, with the focus on her, but every interaction has been marred by her addiction, whether she is fighting it or succumbing to it; a heady cocktail that unapologetically does not promise a happy ending.

Writing – 5 Stars

Art – 4 Stars

Colors -5 Stars

Overall – 4.5 Stars

Written by; Matthew Klein
Art by; Morgan Breem
Colors by; Triona Farrell
Letters by; Hassan Otsmane-Elhauo
Published by; IDW Publishing

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network