Oliver Davis reviews East of West #8…

“We catch up with the three horsemen and gain insight into what their greater mission is and what plans they have for The Chosen.”

After telling the Keeper of the Message’s tale in the last issue, East of West #8 concerns itself with his replacement – a Cruella de Vil-looking woman, who, rather than basing her appearance on dalmatian fur, instead asks her wardrobe: ‘how can I possibly show off more of my wrinkly cleavage?’ She’s the new President (the last one literally lost his head under stress) and she’s not very nice.

She takes up a good two thirds of the issue, as she deals with unrest in the Capital – stemming from the Three Horsemen slowly taking control. It’s hard to fully empathise with the citizens’ plight, as up until now there hasn’t been a single character from the Capital for the reader to follow. Bar their fetchingly clashing styles (they still don cowboy hats and ol’Western garb in this futuristic city), they appear no different to your generic rent-a-mob. Rather than the Capital’s inhabitants, the story is really Madame President’s, who has only become a major player relatively recently. After a run of three issues that focuses almost entirely on brand new/minor characters and their backstories, East of West’s main narrative feels to have stalled.

There is one small development, however, which makes for the issue’s most readable segment. Death finally meets the Oracle in an underground prison (the “OLDEST ONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD…I KNOW, ‘CAUSE I HELPED BUILD IT”) to help find his stolen son. The scene is illustrated tensely, both the art and lettering constructing a sense of space. Firstly, the Oracle’s cell appears as a tiny illuminated square, far off in the distance, as Death wades through the black. Her speech bubbles are almost microscopic, getting a little larger with each frame. Her final full-page reveal is grotesque; the top of her head has exposed brain and she has tentacles rather than eyes. She’ll help, but only for a trade.

But, it seems, that morsel is far too much story progression for a single issue. Drip-feeding is one thing, but this is tantamount to malnourishment. The Horsemen’s Famine would be proud.

Oliver Davis is one of Flickering Myth’s co-editors. You can follow him on Twitter @OliDavis.