Review – Fatale #20 (Image Comics)

Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
Release Date: 12th February 2014

This is the first issue of Fatale I personally have ever read, and that fact that I now want to go back and catch up and continue with the story is a testament to the exemplary writing skills of Ed Brubaker. Upon finishing the issue I took a few minutes to look up the story and see what I had missed, finding my assumptions of the character were nearly spot on – another testament to the writing and story telling skills. Sean Phillips’ artwork is also done very well and fits this rather dark noir comic and really matches the tone that the writing provides.

This issue begins the “Curse the Demon” story arc, which readers that have been along for the ride thus far may understand. The story takes our femme fatale Josephine out into public, a place I took from the story she doesn’t particularly like to be. It seems she has the ability – or curse – to make men fall madly in love (or just crazy infatuation and lust) with her. We find her searching out one or two such men that she had met before, for reasons I’m not entirely sure of. She meets a few occult members along the way and a small boy who she was not expecting to come across who she leaves rather harshly behind.

As I stated earlier, being that I have come in at such a late issue and enjoyed the book this thoroughly truly is a testament to the abilities of both writer and artist. I find the story intriguing and different from what I am normally drawn to read. To take a character that is a succubus of sorts and spin a tale that takes her from the 1930’s to the present day and keep it interesting is no easy feat. So my advice would be that if you’re looking for a different story from the normal comic on the shelves then you definitely need to snatch this up and give it a read. And while you’re at it, you should also follow in my footsteps as I head to the local shop to pick up some past trades of this story when you get a chance!