REVIEW: 'The Least We Can Do' #4 by Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli

 

THE LEAST WE CAN DO #4  

Writer: Iolanda Zanfardino

Artist: Elisa Romboli

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: December 7, 2022

Cover Price: $3.99

Finally, Uriel can take part in her first mission against the Eden Army. Will she be able to fight like the other Eclipse Rebels and prove that her grueling training has paid off? And will she manage to protect the team captain from her own hot-headedness and thirst for revenge?

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

After all the talk about magical powers and training, Uriel finally gets in on the action in 'The Least We Can Do' issue four. Emotions are still running high but the moment to strike against the Eden Army puts the Rebels to the test. Uriel is ready to help the team on a mission to hijack a shipment on a moving train. It's the action we've been waiting for. 

Much of the series thus far, has been about Uriel fitting in, discovering and honing her powers, while they prepare for war. The story has been pretty insular because everything happens within the walls of their stronghold leaving much about the enemy to be piecemealed along the way. The conflict between Uriel and Sam has escalated at times as Sam misdirects a lot of her inner rage toward the novice Uriel. Dealing with her anger becomes an issue here also and almost derails the mission.

Iolanda Zanfardino is equally adept at character development using fast-paced dialogue, emotional exposition, and choreographing exciting energetic action sequences. Those strengths are on display in issue four providing much more balance to the story that has so far, relied more on interpersonal conflicts than external ones. So much has been said about the crystals, or mediums, that give each one their powers that we've only really seen them used in practice. Finally, there's an exciting sequence with their powers in use against the dreaded Eden Army we've only been hearing about. 

Every issue has been a delight to look at because of Elisa Romboli's lively and emotive art style. Using deep earth tones and exaggerated heightened movements, action scenes are especially fun to witness in an almost cartoonish way. The art pops off the page and even in the smaller quieter moments between characters the framing and composition of those scenes are so inviting and intimate the reader is irresistibly drawn in. There are so many emotions built into the script that Romboli's mastery at conveying them leaves no question as to what the characters are feeling. 

'The Least We Can Do' has an array of great characters in a world in turmoil just waiting to get off the ground. After a lot of training and character development, these magical rebels finally get to show their powers in a real way and it gives this series the punch it's been missing. There's what appears to be some resolution in the complicated relationships between Urien and others which hopefully clears the way for more dazzling magic-infused battles. The series has shown plenty of heart and now is ready to show off its muscle.