Image Comics pride itself on diversity as their comics cover all genres and art styles. One of the more diverse comics hitting the shelves this week is Copperhead, issue 10. Copperhead, which can be purchased here, is a hybrid comic that fuses a western adventure type story with science fiction elements. It focuses on Clara Bronson and her job as a sheriff dealing with the town’s people, bandits and what ever else is thrown at her. In the last issue, issue 9, Clara was pursuing her deputy, Boo, who was kidnapped by bandits as an act to get revenge on the sheriff. Issue 10 concludes the second story arc for Copperhead leaving the good, the bad and the verdict in its pathway.
The Good:
The issue allows for development of Clara’s character, as she is willing to put her life on the line in various situations for justice. One of these circumstances is when Clara poses as a stripper in order to find where Boo (her deputy) was being kept. Furthermore, Clara has no qualms about how to achieve justice taking a hostage to attempt to capture criminals alive. As the situation would develop the hostage is killed by his own brother resulting in only one option for Clara to achieve justice, which is to use her gun, without hesitation. Issue 10 captures the abilities that Sheriff Clara Bronson can make decisions that have real consequences for all people involved, sometimes involving death. Outside of Clara’s character development the comic does tie up the second story arc nicely while leading into the third story arc as the comic ends on a cliffhanger. This generates interest for issue 11 as many factors are going to contribute to this arc such as Clara’s ex-husband, thus generating speculation.
The Bad:
The comic has too much information attempting to be told in a single issue. As a result the issue suffers as it puts a burden on the reader to assume how the characters obtain elements such as information to carry out a plan. This is fine except major elements had to be assumed hurting the over all feel of the comic as it is up to the reader to figure out those parts of the story.
The Verdict:
Copperhead, issue 10, is a coin toss and leaves its validity to chance. The development of Clara was well done and will be utilized in further issues as the story progresses with new threats. Conversely, the issue felt rushed and leaves the reader to assume parts of the story. Ultimately, in reading this issue, I am torn. On one hand it ends an arc in the story and Clara’s character gains development, but at the same time the comic was rushed and left a lot to be imagined by the reader. Issue 10 is a rough issue but does bring the second arc of Copperhead to an end, overall making this issue an average issue.
