Rook: Exodus #9 Review

Arachnid Takes Over With Terrifying Power

Brooooo… lean in real close because this one right here? This Rook: Exodus #9 joint is straight up WILD. I’m talkin’ “call your cousins, grab the popcorn, brace your soul” wild. Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok said, “Oh, y’all thought we were playin’?” and then threw Arachnid at us like it was a boss fight on nightmare mode. WEPA!

From page one we get blasted straight into the snow, the chaos, the razor-sharp tensionboom, boom, BOOMlike a cinematic cold open that slaps you before you even sit down. Fabok’s art? Forget about it. The man went full monster mode, tossing giant purple demon spiders the size of Yorkies into the mix. And these ain’t cute lil’ Charlotte’s Web babies they shoot nightmare webs that disconnect our heroes from the Wildlife Grid and shove them straight into mental hell loops from their past lives. That’s not a power… that’s trauma with legs.

And then Arachnid himself? HOLY. HELL. My guy rolls in like the final evolution of “Nope.” Lower half fused to a giant robo spider death machine, mask full of creepy multi eyes and fangs like he woke up and chose arachno chaos. Every panel with him feels like the horror version of salsafast, sharp, and you got no choice but to move with it. Brad Anderson’s purple palette makes those spiders pop like neon nightmares while Rob Leigh’s lettering turns Arachnid’s voice into pure “bro, I gotta sleep with the lights on tonight.”

And while we’re losing our collective minds over Arachnid, Johns sneaks in the emotional gut punches. Dire Wolf’s father, Bloodhound? Hanging onto humanity by a thread thinner than these nightmare webs. And Stag, the mystical deer samurai looking Warden, is hunting him down with some ancient honor code beef that’s ready to explode. We ALMOST get more of that story, but Arachnid crashes the party so hard the subplot gets shoved into next issue. And honestly? Worth it. Because Arachnid just stole the whole damn show.

But THEN hold your mofongo! Johns drops the bomb that there are OTHER HUMANS on Exodus. Families. Survivors. Secrets that flip the whole mission upside down. Turns out this planet ain’t as dead as Rook thought, which means the rabbit hole just got deeper, darker, and way more complicated. Johns stays planting mysteries like he’s gardening chaos, and we’re all here for it.

The action? Chef’s kiss. Wolves, birds, boars, snowstorms, swords, giant spiders, and Rook catching L’s and W’s all at the same time. Fabok draws it like he’s storyboarding the next blockbuster action moviebig spreads, violent beauty, and movement that practically screams off the page.

By the end, Rook is trapped. We’re trapped. The whole audience is stuck in Arachnid’s twisted web just praying he doesn’t show up in our dreams later. This dude isn’t just a villainhe’s the thesis statement of the whole series. The Warden helmets don’t bless you… they take you. Slowly. Brutally. Until you become something that makes even Exodus afraid.

Rook: Exodus #9 is a monster of an issue that grabs you by the collar, shakes you like a bad domino player, and laughs while doing it. Arachnid is THAT dude. The menace of the year. The Warden of your nightmares. And he sets the stage for a next issue that’s about to go full Stag fury.

This one doesn’t just raise the stakesit sets ‘em on fire and throws them off a cliff.

WEPA, what a ride!

SCORE:
4/5

Creators: Jason Fabok & Geoff Johns
Color Artist: Brad Anderson
Letters: Rob Leigh
Publisher: IMAGE COMICS/ GHOST MACHINE

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!