Timala Elliott
Timala Elliott
Home #4
Image Comics
Written by Julio Anta
Art by Anna Wieszczyk
Colors by Bryan Valenza
Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
The Rundown: Juan is targeted by ICE agents after he uses his powers to assist someone in need.
Gladys and Juan return to their home after escaping a dangerous situation. The two then have a heated conversation that reveals the nature of a tragedy. Afterwards, Juan persuades his aunt that he is okay remaining home alone while she attends her job. Later, he sees a group of kids playing soccer and decides to join them. When a child finds himself in a precarious circumstance, Juan is forced to reveal his powers. ICE is then alerted and they quickly descend upon the residence. A frantic Juan contacts Gladys for help. She advises her nephew on a method of escape. Then Gladys contacts an unexpected duo for assistance.
The Story: Julio Anta delivers another brilliantly crafted page turner in the penultimate chapter of this series. I am once again emotionally impacted by the nature of Juan’s situation. The devastating conversation he and Gladys have regarding detained immigrant children broke my heart. It is a reminder of the vulnerability that even the most prominent and powerful people of color have when they desire to challenge an unfair system. This issue also brings up the disturbing feelings of hostility and rage that is felt toward non-white ethnicities. And the portrayal of the busybody neighbor was not lost upon me. I am glad that this story does not shy away from calling out the destructive patterns of behavior that negatively impact communities.
The cliff hanger ending and its promising implications are very intriguing. And it makes me want to know more about the universe in which Juan and Gladys reside. Although I am excited for the last chapter in this saga, I am sad this story is ending. It is my sincerest hope that this is only the beginning of Juan’s journey.
The Art: I am really impressed by the transportive artwork in this issue. Wieszczyk and Valenza use a youthful style with a changing color palette to convey tonal shifts in the story. The emphasis on character expression easily elicits an emotional response. And the intensity of the action oriented panels is completely engaging.
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