Fatale all of a sudden becomes very small and predictable. Brubaker moves the action, for a bit, to Fresno (in the fifties), which gives Phillips a lot to draw. Except when it comes time for the big reveal scene–when Hank gets his first clue about being in over his head–it’s an exceptionally small scene.
I get Brubaker not wanting to show the shark or whatnot, but come on. Fatale is in its third issue, there have been teases before. Another tease just leaves the finish of the book empty.
The modern day protagonist returns for a bit this issue at the beginning. It’s unclear why Brubaker’s including him, except to confirm the manuscript from the first issue isn’t the flashbacks. Not exactly. It’s embellished.
But otherwise? Including the modern day stuff doesn’t make any difference to the issue.
As for the predictability… hopefully Brubaker can recover his footing.
CREDITS
Death Chases Me, Interlude and Chapter Three; writer, Ed Brubaker; artist, Sean Phillips; colorist, Dave Stewart; publisher, Image Comics.
