The Unwritten #20 (DC / Vertigo – Carey / Gross / Locke)

Tom’s search for the source of his father’s power has been hampered by the fact that he doesn’t know what it looks like or what it can do. But he’s about to experience it first-hand! As the cabal unleashes a new threat and Tom’s relationship with his friends goes through some more-than-unexpected changes, this may be the worst time to play with fire . . .

I just sat down and read the last five issues of The Unwritten – without a doubt genius!  In a blurb, exchange Harry Potter with Neo in The Matrix and have it written by literature gurus.  Stories control reality, but who controls the stories? The only question I have is would have felt this pumped if I were reading it one issue – one month – at a time?

And the answer is probably not.  Carey is a phenomenal writer – but there is a lot of dead time in these books – yes it builds suspense, yes it builds tension, yes there is a grand, smart and purposeful infrastructue here that makes me wish Carey were writing The Event but it still drags in the short term.

This is the second issue in the new arc that puts Tommy and his cohorts on the offensive against the Cabal.

Bottom Line: Great villains, awesome art, amazing story – but better enjoyed in the trades – which are out!

Issue Grade: B+

Series Grade: A