House of Slaughter #23: Distrust and Dragons
Creative Team
writer: TATE BROMBAL
artist: ANTONIO FUSO
colorist: MIQUEL MUERTO
letterer: ANDWORLD DESIGNS
publisher: BOOM! STUDIOS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
House of Slaughter #23 is filled with political drama, tension building, and commentary on the cycle of violence that comes with revenge.
Jace Boucher, a lone monster hunter, has bested the two factions tracking him causing infighting within the House of Slaughter and House of Butcher. Distrust is everywhere and it’s clear this may help Jace in his war.
This issue drops readers into several storylines that are cleverly weaved together by writer Tate Brombal. For the past two arcs, Jace has saved and adopted orphaned children from monsters that only kids can see. While admirable, this has evolved into a large responsibility for him and with blood feuds seeking his life, he is presented no other options than to remove players from the equation—thus kicking off the first track of this issue.
Jace’s kids have been hiding out with his close contact, Maven, and she insists he runs away rather than fight. It’s an easy suggestion, but history has shown to be unforgiving for Jace’s family in the past. After a somber exit into the night by Jace, the story continues to showcase the struggles between the two Houses as they struggle with each other.
Brombal’s storytelling has been nothing short of stellar with this series in the way worlds have been built and the cast of characters have all had their own personalities. With two issues left in Jace’s war, tensions have been pushed past the point of breaking and cracks have begun to form. It’s excellent writing, and has given Jace his rightful place as a titular character in the Slaughterverse.
Illustrated by Antonio Fuso with colors by Miquel Muerto, this issue gives both artists space to flex their very capable skills. From the range of characters, locations, and color palettes from the different storylines, this issue’s visuals are engrossing, haunting, and in some scenes—tragic.
Final Verdict
This issue is thrilling and reminds fans why the Slaughterverse is one of the coolest (and deadliest) universes around. Don’t get caught without this issue, there’s hunters out there.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 9.25 |
| Story/Plot | 9.0 |
| Art/Line Work | 9.25 |
| Colors | 9.25 |
| Final Score | 9.2/10 |