The Writer, true to its title, has been a story about stories: the power they hold, the joy and trials in shaping them, and how they can come to life. Quite literally come to life, as this comic has seen demons and other mythological creatures invade its pages. It only makes sense to have the final issue discuss the power of endings, but how The Writer #4 ends is genuinely unexpected.
It starts off with a big battle royale between Stan Siegel’s family, a horde of demons, and King Solomon. (If that isn’t enough to get you to check out the back issues, then I’m seriously questioning my effectiveness as a comic book critic.) But then things start to warp, to change, and then the story shifts in a unique direction. To say more would spoil the surprise, but it feeds into the kind of metafiction you find every once in a while, most recently in DC’s concluded Outsiders series.
It’s the kind of bold swing that only works when you have the right creators behind it, and Josh Gad and the Berkowitz Brothers are the right men for the job. The way they’ve structured The Writer #4 is a commentary on what stories mean to us, and why certain elements keep finding their way back. Stan sums it up best when he talks about the power of the golem. “It’s a symbol of resilience, of fighting back against a world that’s tried to crush us,” he says in a pivotal moment. It’s some genuine food for thought, and shows the level of though that was put into crafting this story.
That same level of care is applied to Ariel Olivetti’s artwork. The first half of the book is a big blowout battle between demons and heroes, featuring more than a few faces who’ve popped up in previous issues. The second half goes full metafiction, featuring crossed out titles, a character literally hanging onto his thought balloons for dear life, and a series of panels showing the word “Stan” growing bigger and bigger, almost like it’ll leap out of the pages and crush the reader. Olivetti’s artwork grows less and less refined as well, showing the creative process of making a comic in reverse. So do Frank Cvetkovic’s letters.
The Writer #4 is a reminder about how powerful stories really are. They can inspire you in your darkest hours. They can serve as a reminder of mankind’s triumphs, and the struggles we still face to this day. They’re a way for us to hold onto family, friends, and culture. The creative team has created something truly special with this comic.
And if the last page is any indication, they might have more in the works…
