Don’t get me wrong: Death to Pachuco #3 was good.
But good ain’t enough for one of my favorite crime stories of the last couple years. (And there’s been some rather solid “competition.”)
It was ultimately a matter of, as I so succinctly explained it, “That’s great, but then what?” Which is to say, as the creative team (writer-letterer Henry Barajas, artist Rachel Merrill, and colorist Lee Loughridge) kept expertly building their version of 1940s Los Angeles on the verge of a race war, everything felt like not nearly in enough in terms of Ricky Tellez’s investigation into who really killed Carlos Urbano (in what’s now referred to as the Sleepy Lagoon murder). It felt a little like the world kept right on shining with its cultural immersion and prescient offerings, but the case itself had maybe stalled out a bit too much to maintain that proper momentum.
Luckily, Death to Pachuco #4 gets as right where we need to be — firmly on the edge.
Variant cover by Ben Passmore. Courtesy of Top Cow/Image Comics.
Because as the penultimate issue, this chapter had that unenviable task of “righting the ship” and setting up what’s (at least conceptually) going to be an explosive finale. And it did just that in a few key ways, and with a real sense of infectious excitement.
The first has to do with addressing the issues I’d mentioned before — not going all the way in terms of storytelling. Death to Pachuco #4 gives us exactly what we think we need, as Ricky finally gets in a room with Chuco Loco, the man who actually killed Urbano (and who inadvertently framed Rosalinda Garcia). And whether it’s the Hammett-esque internal dialogue, or the raw but potent scenes of physical violence and intimidation, this confrontation is fraught with a physically effective level of anger and tension. It’s exactly the kind of sharp, violent chaos we needed to really get back on track and feel as if Ricky is actually making some headway. It’s a chance not just to see the love and commitment that went into shaping this world, but what it’s like when this deep, cutting story gets to really let loose and bash us around a bit. It’s satisfying on a few levels, and exactly the kind of rush that’s going to launch us into the story’s final “minutes.”
Courtesy of Top Cow/Image Comics.
Only, in what felt like a recognition of the importance of momentum, and not over-correcting as to over-expend too quickly, that satisfying moment is cut short. And, yeah, it’s irksome when the bad guy gets away, but it turns out that’s infinitely valuable for Ricky and the story at large. For one, it means that within this issue, Ricky experiences setbacks, and feels even less in charge as he’s captured by a gang of sailors. And as much of a super badass as he’s been so far, that leveling out only makes him feel more real as the case becomes so much more personal than before his entrapment. We see more chinks in his armor than at any other point in Death to Pachuco, and I love that for how much more textured and engaging Ricky is as things fall apart for him in the very best way.
It’s also a great opportunity for other players to step up, and even Esmeralda (Rosalinda’s sister) gets to rescue our favorite PI in a scene that adds a sense of joyous chaos, ups the stakes even further, and shows this fictionalized world to be genuinely real across the board. In a book that’s used everything from the lettering to Spanglish to foster our immersion, it’s been the “ascension” of this supporting cast that’s been another hugely effective way to show the real cost of these riots and the ways everyone was impacted in trying to keep their little piece of the pie intact. A great lead is vital, but it feels like after this issue, people are coming alive in response to the brewing storm of violence, and it makes a slightly abstract (albeit well crafted) history lesson come alive with even greater passion and fury.
Courtesy of Top Cow/Image Comics.
A big part of that is that, structurally speaking, the story builds up to a big moment between the Pachucos/Pachucas and the sailors in a way that’s similarly manipulative. And when I say manipulative, what I really mean is that the creative team are once again giving us something — pops of fighting, a sudden uptick in action, a snarling face, etc. — without going full bore. They’re not just teasing us — they want to use violence and the sudden jump in our attention strategically. By doing so, they’re respecting this story and fostering our immersive experience.
Sure, there’s parts of this moment I didn’t enjoy as much. For instance, the sailors (at least some members) were fleshed out in issues prior, and that didn’t necessarily make them sympathetic but it did let us understand the context of their violence. Some of that’s missing in Death to Pachuco #4, and what we get is mostly just unbridled violence from that crew.
But I can mostly accept that given the creative team’s efforts to stick and move across this issue, and there’s one scene at least that expertly kicks the sailors into final gear. It’s a moment that, while a little deliberate, feels like the final spark leading to a showdown that’s prepared to explode with maximum velocity. Truly, the end of this issue is a moment that will set your teeth on edge and have you foaming at the mouth. Nothing happens, but there’s the heavy sense that when it eventually does, every single one of us are going to reach a true fever pitch of rage and corresponding catharsis.
Courtesy of Top Cow/Image Comics.
And that feels like the best encapsulation of Death to Pachuco #4: A mental-emotional game of chess. A demonstration of this book’s true efficiency and power as everyone does what they need to do (fight, stand up, emotive resolutely, etc.) to prepare for the final issue. And while you’d hope that’s the work of any decent penultimate issue, the fact of the matter is that this one does it with more grit, intent, and prowess than a lot of other such “pre-conclusions.” It gives you what you need — even if that turns out to be just a brief taste of the massively human clash to come.
So, yeah, Death to Pachuco #4 isn’t just good — it’s a damn fine warm up that pokes and prods us in the very best ways. And if Death to Pachuco #5 can meet even a quarter of that sheer potential, then this whole story will have been a massively rewarding experience.
You must be logged in to post a comment.