Written by: Al Ewing
Illustrated by: Simone Di Meo
Lettered by: AndWorld Design
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 19, 2022
Reviewer: JR Huitt
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any others that were mentioned then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon.
THE HOOK:
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #10 came out this week from Boom Studios. This issue is the conclusion of the second story arc. Al Ewing and Simone Di Meo wrap up the second book of their original series, The Stealer. Does We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #10 reach a level in the heavens, or does it fall back to the ground like Icarus from trying to fly too high? Read further to find out my opinion.
THE STORY:
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #10 proves that Al Ewing is a writer with very few peers. This series is one that, with each new issue, I find myself continually impressed with the twists and turns that Ewing is pulling. This is also a series where it is very obvious that Ewing is playing a very long game with his plotting.
While this is the conclusion of the arc, I will be very upfront that I’ve gone back and read the series again. Where I’ve been seeing how Al Ewing has been lacing future beats with every issue has made me look to see what might turn out to be important, even though it seems like a throwaway at this point.
THE ART:
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #10 is a gorgeous book. Just like the other nine issues that came before it. Simone Di Meo is an incredible talent who deserves all the accolades that I’m about to give him. Di Meo is putting on a master class with his talent and I would love to see a movie where he was the storyboard artist. The scope and scale of the ‘Gods’ are magnificent and really drive home how minuscule humanity really is in the future. The kinetic energy of the book is another way that I believe Di Meo is killing it!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #10 wrapped up the second ‘book’ of the series. And, holy cow, was there a lot of material to unpack. I mentioned earlier that I had gone back and reread the series. I did. With the density of this series, I believe that a refresher is necessary to properly appreciate each new issue. By going back through the issues, the reveals and moments in We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #10 hit harder than they would have otherwise. This is definitely a book that reads better in trade than as individual issues. However, it’s also one of the series that I’m most excited about, so I can’t make myself wait.
I’ll add this about We Only Find Them When They’re Dead. I’ve given the first trade to my 16-year-old daughter as a gift. She enjoyed it so much that I know that she’s passed it around to some of her friends. All of them are patiently waiting for the next volume and we’ve actually had a mini book club meeting about the first trade. They’ve all guessed what they think will happen in the second book, but they are all off the mark. But based on my enjoyment, they will all love where Ewing and Di Meo take the story!
I have one final note. The absolute worst thing that Boom! Studios is doing, in my opinion, is also the best. By releasing two of their best books (We Only Find Them When They’re Dead #10 & Seven Secrets #13) the same week, they make it much easier for the readers to pick them up. Only one trip to the local comic shop is needed! If only the other companies would sync up their releases so that all the books by my favorite creators would come out the same week!