Written by Drew Edwards
Drawn by Sergio Calvet
Edited by Russell Hillman
Published by Global Comix

October 5, 2022/EDIT: When I first reviewed this title this story was in 2 separate issues, but since the move to Global Comix it is now presented in one 135-page issue

The main story in this issue is Eye of The Beholder (part 2 of 2). It’s 24 pages and concludes the story presented last issue. Through flashbacks we get some more background about Olympia Moreau and learn what made her snap. A big storm is coming, and Olympia’s plan is to seed the clouds with her special potion so that when it rains, all the women in Solar City will be affected like Lucy and the bikini models were, making them all gain weight. Lucy and Solomon storm Olympia’s secret compound to try to stop her plan and face not only Olympia’s human/animal hybrids (including a lion-man with knives for hands) and also Millie, one of the models from last issue who has now been brainwashed and is under Olympia’s command.

I won’t spoil how Solomon and Lucy save the day. But the most significant detail of this story is that when it’s over Lucy is unable to reverse the effects of Olympia’s potion, meaning that she and the models remain in their new overweight bodies. As it turns out, Solomon (like his creator) actually prefers women with “a little meat on their bones”, so he has no complaints. And, with Lucy’s help, the women from the last issue begin a new career as plus-size models. It’s an entertaining story although at times it feels as if it’s pushing the “there’s nothing wrong with being big” message a little too hard, almost coming off as preaching. Like Lucy more than once emphasizes that there’s no need to “cure” her or the other women because “there’s nothing wrong” with the way they are now which, again, is a great message, but you don’t need to hit us over the head with it. Heck, one could argue that the entire story itself is unnecessary, that if Edwards wanted Lucy to be a more zaftig woman, he could have simply had her be drawn that way, with no explanation needed. She could just simply have gained weight like many people, women and men (myself included) do as they get older. To his credit, there’s also a bit at the end of the story which points out that exploiting women for being big can be just as degrading as exploiting women for being thin. Either way, it’s judging women solely for their physical appearance.

Then there’s “NEAR DARK”, an 18-page story by the same creative team, where Solomon goes to a funeral late at night and digs up the grave of a werewolf that he killed who has now been revived as a vampire so he can kill him again. Initially, the vampire tries to argue that, like Solomon, he can learn to control his murderous impulses and use them for good, but Solomon isn’t sure. So they fight while having a philosophical discussion about the roots of evil.

And “RETURN OF THE LOVING DEAD” is a 9-page story, drawn by Eliseu Gouveia, which begins with Solomon falling off of a skyscraper. He’s being attacked by an invisible force. Lucy is trying to figure out what’s wrong with him, as the mysterious Morlack informs her that the problem is that as a zombie Solomon needs to feast off of human flesh occasionally, lest his zombie impulses take over completely. So it looks like the only way to help him right now is for Lucy to make a major sacrifice and actually let him eat some of her flesh. EWWWW. It’s beautifully drawn by Gouveia, who draws a sexy Lucy (albeit, the original thinner version) and a story that shows how far some will go for love.

Along with the 51 pages of stories, this issue features an interview with Drew Edwards about his reasons for the change in Lucy’s appearance. Plus some sketches of the “new Lucy” and other characters from the main story by Terry Parr, along with one from Paul Delacroix and one by regular artist Sergio Calvet. There are characters sheets of Man-Goat (drawn by Nicola Scott) and Phantom Hood (by Terry Parry), filling in their details for newer readers.

Quite a lot of content for just $1.99. Even with the few flaws, I mentioned this is an enjoyable comic, worth reading.

Read it for FREE on GLOBALCOMIX.COM