Hallows’ Eve #4 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Erica Schultz, art by Michael Dowling, colours by Brian Reber, and letters by Joe Caramagna. Hallows’ Eve, her friend Marcus, and the werewolf she’s created are stuck inside Beyond Corporation, and she must think outside the box to make her way out.
Get BWT in your inbox!
Get BWT in your inbox!
Taking place immediately where the last issue left off, this comic ramps up the pace. Not wanting to spend time in a standoff, Hallows’ Eve has to act quickly. The tables are shifted, but the stakes are still heavily against the unlikely hero and her companions. Wherever they go, there is a dangerous threat. But it should also be remembered that those on the side of the “good guys” are inexperienced and out of control with their powers and capabilities. That is forgotten about due to the chaos of the situation, but it’ll make the fight much more difficult.
This comic had a lot to establish when it started due to how many of its characters were new or unknown. But in Hallows’ Eve #4, the rules and the characteristics are clear, which allows them to be stretched and tested. Almost all the masks have been revealed, but some still contain a surprise. Janine, Marcus, and the werewolf are where the chaos stems from, whilst Maxine is an unrelenting, deadly serious antagonist. The cast remains small, with the detective being the only one that isn’t in the room at the start of the comic. This has allowed relationships to be built and for the personalities of the characters to be superbly crafted.
The art is excellent. The face-off between Janine and Maxine features amazing character designs. Hallows’ Eve is still the most drastic of the bunch. When the werewolf isn’t transformed, everyone is normal. But in the middle is this Halloween costume with a cape and masks. Then in the second half of the comic, more is added to the weirdness, showing that it isn’t just Janine that brings the absurd to this part of New York. If there is a criticism, the locations themselves could do with more personality. This is especially the case inside Beyond Corporation, where it is just a bland four walls with little in the way of identifying features.
The colors are fantastic. Having an outfit so vibrant is captivating, with the orange of Hallows’ Eve easily the brightest shade in the entire issue. There are no other shades like that in the comic, helping her stand out. And, like the rest of the line art, the colors shine in the second half, with a really lovely glow to the windows and the sky above the action. The lettering is always easy to read, and the SFX is extremely dynamic.
Hallows’ Eve #4 gives the inexperienced hero a real test. The issue creates the biggest stakes so far, penning the heroes in and giving them a showdown with the villains of the book. It continues to be an exciting comic with a small cast of fascinating characters. There’s a simple concept: the masks, but it has been enough to generate a story of side-effects and consequences, something Hallows’ Eve needed to learn.
Hallows’ Eve #4 is available where comics are sold.
Hallows' Eve #4
TL;DR
Hallows’ Eve #4 gives the inexperienced hero a real test. The issue creates the biggest stakes so far, penning the heroes in and giving them a showdown with the villains of the book. It continues to be an exciting comic with a small cast of fascinating characters.
