REVIEW: 'Arcade Kings' #4 by Dylan Burnett, Walter Baiamonte, and Sara Antonellini

 

ARCADE KINGS #4

Writer: Dylan Burnett

Artist: Dylan Burnett, Walter Baiamonte, Sara Antonellini

Letterer: Andworld Design

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: August 30, 2023

Cover Price: $7.99

"Get on board with ARCADE KINGS!" -DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON (DO A POWERBOMB!, MURDER FALCON)

ROUND FOUR: FIGHT!

Joe's search for his missing brother is over, but now the real battle begins. Ken's leveled up since he last saw Joe, and he's ready to throw down. It's a brother vs. brother matchup to see who's strongest!

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

QUICK REVIEW: It's incredibly hard to jump into a new series mid-arc, no matter how good it may be, because like this fourth issue of 'Arcade Kings' it's an accumulation of events that have built up between two characters, brothers in this case, and it's a tense contentious reunion that only readers who've read from the beginning can appreciate. For those who have, Joe, finding Ken after all these years goes about as bad as you can imagine. Ken holds a lot of resentment and pain with good reason and while Joe's efforts may be in good faith, Ken isn't convinced. This is not the action-packed issue we've become used to and that's okay, Dylan Burnett focuses on the relationship of brothers that is at the heart of the series. It puts in perspective what really is at stake and allows the characters to drive the story with dialogue full of emotions and honesty. Ken is finally able to confront Joe about many things and it's painful to witness. The art vividly captures the angst, the betrayal, and the heartache, in Ken's face and body language. As fantastic as the fighting sequences have been, the emotional beats that ground the story have been equally if not more impressive as depicted by the art team. 

'Arcade Kings' continues to be an exciting and heart-rending adventure carefully and beautifully executed by a creative team that respects its characters and its audience. It's not just about big eye-popping fights but the fragility of a brotherhood that's been torn apart. It's simply great storytelling.