10/10 Review

Pretty Deadly: The Rat #5 is the solemn swansong of the mini-series and with it, a high point has been reached. The poetry and poignancy of this series have never been more lucidly on display. Artistry is the focus and motivation behind the writing and the visuals which leads to the final product being a work of pure art. For five issues this story has shown that this team has their best in front of them and, with more Pretty Deadly scheduled to come, comic fans are in for a treat. But, for now, this stands as the absolute testament to the beauty offered by this series.

Full review in link. 

6comicsthegathering, comic review, pretty deadly the rat, pretty deadly, pretty deadly comic, prettydeadly, emma rios, kelly sue deconnick, jordie bellaire, clayton cowles, jay hill, image comics,

Pretty Deadly - The Rat #5
Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Emma Rios
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.99
MINISERIES FINALE
Clara speaks.
The finale issue of “The Rat” story arc-set in the classic Golden Age of Hollywood-and the newest installment in the popular mythic fantasy series.
“The Rat” is the midway point in the PRETTY DEADLY series, with upcoming volumes including the fourth story arc, “The Butterfly,” which will look backward to reveal Alice’s origins, and the fifth story arc, which will push the series to its conclusion in the Great Depression.
Why It’s Cool: Pretty Deadly - The Rat, like other volumes of Pretty Deadly, has just been a gorgeous ethereal story from its start, with a mythological framing device that lends itself to grand poetic prose flourishes and some of the best artwork in all of comics. This issue definitely leans into the elemental side of the world created in these pages, creating a dark fever dream of a story that feels heavy with equal parts darkness and hope, all of which adds up to a wave of meaning that comes over the reader and gives additional weight to the four issues that came before this one. If you haven’t been reading this book monthly, you’ll want to do yourself a favor and make a note to pick up the forthcoming trade.

PRETTY DEADLY: THE RAT #5

We have a long year ahead of us with Pretty Deadly off the monthly schedule once again, but at least it delivers an ending to “The Rat” worth revisiting. This is a conclusion that addresses both the open-ended nature of endings in life and fiction, understanding that the door never really closes but that we might find a thought worth holding onto. Its consideration of forgiveness and closure are wondrous things to behold on the page, a transformative experience that evokes meaning in each word balloon and panel. It’s left open to interpretation and re-interpretation, eliding the impermanence addressed in the final few pages. Pretty Deadly remains one of the best (sometimes) monthly comics around and “The Rat” is its best installment to date. – Chase Magnett

Rating: 5 out of 5

6pretty deadly the rat, pretty deadly, comic reviews, Wednesday Comics, kelly sue deconnick, emma rios, jordie bellaire, clayton cowles,

The Company You Keep. 

6lists,