When Terry Blas and Enid Balám took on Reptil, they had a chance to mold the character and take him in a new direction after years of being unused. Each issue of this miniseries felt like a breath of fresh air, and after finishing issue #4 it’s quite clear this creative team made their mark on this character.
Most of Reptil #4 is about the quieter moments, wrapping up the action-oriented segments from previous issues. There’s a lot of self-discovery in these pages and a lot of good, heartwarming content. Humberto connecting with his family has been one of the greatest joys of this miniseries thus far and Blas really makes you love these characters. It’s clear that a central theme of Reptil has been Humberto learning to love and forgive himself, and to see his family play such a pivotal role in this journey for him is quite sweet.
Image: Marvel Comics
It’s also nice to see Humberto’s culture play such a pivotal role in this story, and it’s a segment of Reptil that is sure to hit home with many fans.
There’s a sense of community in this miniseries that just feels so wholesome. Blas really hits the nail on the head in Humberto’s interactions with his family and later, at the big gathering where Sarsen attacks.
Humberto’s self-discovery arc continues in a much more on-the-nose fashion when he finally uses his powers in ways he wasn’t able to before: he turns into a full dinosaur. Balám’s art shines in the segments with Humberto’s dinosaur forms, making each creature look as cool as it should.
Reptil was a fun, heartfelt journey from start to finish and while it’s sad to the miniseries end, it’s also a testament to the type of diverse books Marvel should continue putting out. Throughout this series, Humberto’s character history isn’t just acknowledged, it’s expanded on in realistic ways that make the title feel so completely natural.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login