Briar - Issue 5

What happens in 'Briar' Issue 5?

Published by BOOM! Studios, comic book writer Christopher Cantwell and artist Christopher Lins invite you to a dark fantasy world littered with slapstick comedy in the fifth issue of 'Briar.' A comic book issue continuing its focus on the quest of titular character, Briar Rose, as she seeks vengeance on the evil Grendrid.

Briar Rose and her friends foil the plot of some down and out thieves who are planning to steal a sick cow. After scaring off the thieves and causing one of them (accidentally) to plunge off the cliff, they cash in on the reward to find a local villager's cow which is less than we expected. Leading to a talking head scene in a bar as Briar and her friends decide their next move while she urges them they need to stay on course to take out the foul and horrid Grendrid.

While at this point, Briar feels very light hearted, series writer Christopher Cantwell bucks that expectation and takes us into a deep and highly emotive discussion between Briar and ice-veined character, Spider, as they talk about why she can't sleep and her fear of Grendrid. A fear exacerbated when Briar is visited by Grendrid in a demonically-charged hellscape which tears asunder the very concept of an underworld or "hell."

Suitably, it's scenes like this where the combined artistic talents of Christopher Lins and colorist Luis NCT absolutely steal the show. A point elevated by lettering which knows how to make you feel like you're reading a 500 word fantasy novel - when you're really not.

Briar continues to be a comic book fans who have enough room for dark fantasy and comedy in equal measures. Not exactly Lord of the Rings but there's still that feeling of a party of adventurers journeying to a far away land to vanquish evil.

There's more here that readers of Terry Pratchett will find affinity with than J.R.R. Tolkien.

'Briar' - Issue 5 Preview Pages

'Briar' - Issue 5 Variant Covers