Review: The Dollhouse Family #4

Review: The Dollhouse Family #4

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: M.R. Carey

Artist: Vince Locke and Peter Gross

Colorist: Cris Peter

Letterer: Todd Klein

Reviewer: Tony Farina

Summary

The Dollhouse Family #4 begins sometime, somewhere deep below the Earth Joseph Kent has gone to kill the demon who started this whole dramatic family saga. He comes arms with a knife that is supposed to harm Cloax, but, that can only work if he actually has a hand, which Cloax has suddenly and violently removed.

Meanwhile, back in 2005, we discover that Alice and Una survived the bombing that happened on the last panel of issue three. Neither of them have come through unscathed. The cover gives you a hint. The police are investigating the bombing and of course, the crazy bastard who blew it up, knew that Una and Alice would be there. Things are crazy.

Alice tries to learn to walk and Jake, Una’s father, slowly comes to terms with the fact he has a daughter. Things are fraught. Plus, the dollhouse is back and the whole situation is making Alice a bit cranky as one could imagine it would. So, she heads back down into the house to do battle.

Positives

If tension were an instrument, M.R. Carey would be a virtuoso. Honestly, if Hill House has not already sold the TV or Movie rights to this I would shocked. What an excellently told story. The time swings are not remotely confusing. The reveals are done at the exact perfect time in each issue. Carey has translated his novel writing skills into this format just beautifully. Not everyone can move so effortlessly between comics and novels (and screenplays for him).

The art team are holding up their end of the bargain as well. The creep factor is cranked up to 11. The way they depict every single emotional swing Alice has makes us feel like  we are there having them with her. This is what happens when she finds out she she has been in a coma for 5 weeks and, well, just look…

That is just five stars all the way. Anger, pain, fear, acceptance, remorse all packed into a few panels. So powerful. The please at the end does me in each time I see it. Wow.

Negatives

I love this book. Sorry. Nothing to see here.

Verdict

I am going to spend the next few days thinking about that final panel, but the moment of realization that Alice has is even more haunting. I don’t wan’t to wait a month to get the next issue. I know… One by one go down, be weighed…

No, I won’t make that deal. I can just wait. It will be a long month though.