Belle: Beast Hunter #4by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 Belle prepares to share her secret with her best friend, Mel, but a beast breaks in and attacks! The beast takes Mel, and Belle pursues.Wow! This issue is fantastic! I love the pacing, which has a strong "superhero" feel to it. I love that there's a back-and-forth between the hunt and the time in Mel's apartment, which tie together very well. It keeps a healthy suspense going for the first half while also keeping Belle's building-up to telling her friend from dragging out. The fight scene is powerful and realistic, with Belle being at a disadvantage against the beast's brute strength. I appreciate that Mel is aware enough to comment on Belle's outfit, and also fierce enough herself to make an attempt at fighting the beast herself. The beast looks like Krampus crossed with a werewolf, which is interesting. It makes for a great challenge in battle, but the beast is obviously the brawn and not the brains of whatever operation is behind this. During the hunt portion we get to see Belle use some of her new tech / gear, which is cool; I especially like the pieces that fit on her hands and seemed to be a neat upgrade to traditional grappling hooks and wire work. The comic has a new artist (and is dedicated to the previous one, who passed away); Igor Vitorino does a wonderful job. Each panel breathes life and energy fitting to the scene. I love that Belle's action shots are powerful and beautiful without objectifying her! She's curvy and well-endowed, so her breasts and butt definitely draw the eye, but there's no wonky anatomy or posing to force things, so I'm able to enjoy her as a whole. I truly enjoyed savoring Belle in each panel, and wish I saw more heroines depicted thus. Coloring by Juan Manuel Rodriguez gives it light and life and is the perfect complement to Vitorino's linework. I found myself flipping back through this issue multiple times just to take in more of the art. If I had stumbled across this comic randomly, I would have bought it for the art alone and not been disappointed. Written: July 31, 2018
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