Ron Marz is constructing one of the best cross-over events I’ve ever read. In this issue we are shown who sides with who, and we get a glimpse of who is controlling Aphrodite IV. Artifacts is playing the many mysteries close to its hand, letting your mind play in the TopCow universe to figure out what might be happening. Even though this is the end of the first chapter, the story drags you in, making you want to find out what happens next.

Michael Broussard’s art has reached a new level in Artifacts. Each character is clearly defined, and identifiable, which can be hard when characters are in street clothes compared to specific costumes. He makes the fight scenes feel as if your right there, as another person in the room, or viewing from the street.

In Issue 4, the back matter describes Ian Nottingham, and how is is associated with the Blood Sword, which is one of the 13 Artifacts. It provides just enough information to bring you up to speed, but it makes you want to hunt down the stories that he is previously involved in.