REVIEW: ‘Crossover,’ Issue #13

Crossover #13 is written by Donny Cates, illustrated by Geoff Shaw, colored by Dee Cunniffe, and lettered and designed by John J. Hill. It’s published by Image Comics. The finale of “Meanwhile…” brings together all of the series’ various characters in a final confrontation. Ellie and Ryan face off against Ryan’s father. He allied himself with Negan from The Walking Dead, as Negan was revealed to be the Comic Creator Killer. Also in the fray are Deena Pilgrim and Christian Walker from Powers, as well as…Donny Cates?!

Yes, the writer of this comic appears as a significant character, as he was revealed to be its narrator. While this could have been supremely self-indulgent in the wrong hands, Cates manages to write himself just as well as any of his other characters. In the issue’s opening pages, he muses on the “Death of the Author” phenomenon, which posits that a piece of work may reach a point where it belongs more to the audience than the author. It’s a theory that fits well with the world of comics; fans will often come away with a different interpretation of a series than what the author intended. It’s also ironic because Cates is literally dying in this issue and doesn’t miss the chance to point this out.

He also gets a chance to talk to the reader about what went into the creation of his series God Country, as well as why his comics have become so beloved – it isn’t just the swords or the action. It’s not the first time the series has taken a peek into a creator’s mind – Chip Zdarsky wrote an issue that might be one of the best pieces of metafiction I’ve seen in a while – but it’s rare for a creator to be this open with their audience. As an avid fan of Cates’ work, I love the fact that he chose to wear his heart on his sleeve and deliver a great story in the process.

A good comic isn’t just words, however, and Shaw steps up to the plate to deliver what might be some of the series’ best work. There’s a knock-down, drag-out fight between Ellie and Negan. He uses his trademark barb-wire wrapped baseball bat, and she comes armed with the god of blades Valofax. In one sequence, Valofax shows his power over all blades by summoning everything that could reasonably COUNT as a blade, from the barbed wire on Negan’s bat to shards of glass. One character dons a suit of powered armor that looks like War Machine on steroids.

Cunniffe soaks the scene in a dark blue filter that simulates rain, save for the glowing energy surrounding Valofax, and the greyish tones of Negan’s skin. Also, Hill peppers the issue with captions that showcase Cates’ state of mind. The ending of the issue teases that another member of the Crossover team may have a role to play in the narrative, which will be interesting, to say the least.

Crossover #13 combines a profound script with some mind-melting artwork, resulting in one of the most moving comics of the year. Given where the issue left off, this series continues to defy expectations and I have no idea what the third story arc will entail – but I’m sure that the creative team will deliver an amazing story.

Crossover #13 is available wherever comics are sold.