I just sat on that last cell of this issue for like five minutes marveling at the details. There’s so much said in one picture: Tara’s legs dangling helplessly from Orson’s shadow, showing his protectiveness of her; the thug and the prostitute with guns confronting Orson but with faces in shadow, suggesting the dark nature of their intents; their ring leader in the back completely in shadow, only his sunglasses reflecting a cold blue shine, he has the darkest intents; the redish sunset color of the light continued in the orange of the protitutes hair and leggings suggest the end of something or an approaching death; and the suddenness of this cell coming right after three cells conveying comfort and safety with Tara falling asleep in Orson’s arms. It’s a masterful page by Eduardo Risso.
I love all the different threads this comic brings to the story. You’re with Orson mainly but the comic cuts to no less than four different groups of characters that are just as interesting: the drug dealers with Orson’s video prostitute; the reality show and police detectives; Orson’s memory of his spaceman team on Mars; and ex-spaceman turned bounty hunter Carson and his employer. Every one of these threads begins to revolve around Orson and Tara as they all begin to seek him out. It’s a great way to build tension. Brian Azzarello is doing a great job with this.