Jurassic Park: Devils in the Desert #4
Reviewed by Patrick Hayes aka PatBorg
The covers: Cover A, art by
John Byrne and colors by Ronda Pattison, is a
great example of between a rock and a hard place
as protagonist Monica is between a polar bear
and...something else. How can an Arctic mammal
come into contact with a prehistoric reptile?
Look inside. This scene is inside this
issue. Does it ruin the story? Not at all!
Great layout in terror from Byrne, and the
coloring is excellent as well from Pattison.
Cover R(etailer) I(ncentive) is the black and
white version of A, and it too is aces. As with
the previous issues, I'm a fan of the colored
cover just a titch more. Overall
grades: Cover A A+ and RI A.
The story: Holy...crud...!
There is a brilliant, unexpected, flawless,
jaw-dropping moment in this story. I believe
that if someone other than John Byrne was
writing this book you would not have had such a
WOW! moment. Will and Monica are following the
last four dinosaurs, with Will trying to shoot
them. Naturally, they're not wholly successful
and the book then shifts to a new setting that's
inspired. What follows is an animalistic
showdown that would do Ray Harryhausen proud.
Quick help from a certain editor-in-chief saves
a protagonist after the carnage has ended. Now
when I read the last two pages I was miffed: How
could it end this way? But upon a second
reading, this is most perfect way to end this
story. Every character, that survived, gets a
solid resolution, and that's what readers want.
And the last four words in the book...Not that
long, Mr. Byrne, please! Fantastic!
Overall grade: A+
The art: "Primal" is the best
word to describe John Byrne's art in this
comic. What can Byrne do that you've never seen
before? It gets primal! I believed the
dinosaurs' movements, I believed their actions
(top of Page 7!!!), and, for the first time
since dangling Lex was pulled up into the air
vents before a jumping raptor snapped at her, I
believed that these are dangerous
creatures that cannot be predicted or controlled
(Pages 12 & 13). I also got one of the best
dramatic double page spreads--if not the
best (but, it's only April)--of the year in
comics (Pages 10-11). Kick in the battle on
Pages 16-19 and you'll be bouncing in your seat
in fear and glee. This is some gorgeously
animalistic artwork that gives you the
appropriate terror these creatures should
create. Wow! Overall grade: A+
The coloring: Suburbia comes
creeping up into the colors and Ronda Pattison
closes out this issue excellently. Gorgeous
blue skylines with harsh red-orange gunshots, a
wonderful "Where's Waldo" moment for the reader
(Page 5, panel two), a "northern" battle,
fantastic blue inviting waters (that turn a
disturbing color), and the solemn final two
pages. Ms. Pattison has made a fan of me.
Overall grade: A+
The lettering: I'd like to
repeat something I said in an earlier review of
Shawn Lee: I'm always grateful to letters who
italicize their dialogue so I know where the
characters are putting the stress in their
speech. Lee does this expertly, as well as some
screams and mechanical sound effects I can't go
into. Any other comic would be lucky to have
Lee lettering it. Overall grade: A+
The final line: A superior
series. If any one of these creators want to
journey back to Jurassic Park, I'll be
right behind them to buy a ticket. Highest
possible recommendation! Overall grade:
A+
