Dead Man's Run #4 Review

This issue opens up with Sam Tinker still in search of his sister, Juniper, after they were both murdered and set to endure the various levels of Hell. He has assembled a team of misfits in the promise of helping them escape, but on the condition that they first help him find Juniper on the way out of there. The group runs into a number of nasty, vicious and quite unconventional horror-esque beasts and threats throughout their search. They end up in a 5th level of hell where a horde of children are condemned to be there, but not by someone else. The children sent themselves there because of the the sins they believe they committed. Sam eventually runs into Juniper only to have her taken away yet again by the end leaving a cliffhanger into the next issue.

Greg Pak has always had my attention since 2006 with what I consider to be the best Hulk story of all time, Planet Hulk. He is currently writing X-Treme X-Men for Marvel and will be starting off the relaunched Superman/Batman title for DC so his plate is definitely full which is well deserved. Pak throws a lot of interesting concepts throughout issue #4 of Dead Man's Run. When they get into the 5th Level and are confronted with those self condemned children, it is one of the most eerie and uneasy moments I've read in a comic in a while and I think it's a scene that will stand out for anyone who reads the issue.

Tony Parker adds solid imagery to a well written story by Pak and it shouldn't be long before he gets even more mainstream exposure. He crafts some really grotesque monsters residing in hell. I love the friendly themed horror elements that haunt the children including what looks like an evil stone clown, an extreme teddy bear, and an exaggerated version of a scolding father.

Dead Man's Run is yet another strong outing from a really interesting story that continues to throw out twists and turns and enough nightmarish images to keep you wondering what Pak and Parker will be able to think of next.