American Virgin #23 - Vertigo

Well . . I knew this was the last issue in this series. But . . it certainly didn't end the way I expected it to. Last issue, or 2, we saw our whole gang end up in Cuba. They were going there to see Adam's real father. But, of course, Mel had another reason for being there. Mamie had a heart-attack, but Vanessa stepped up to the plate and saved her life. Adam had a heart to heart with his father, who was a Father. He then decided to do their marriage the right way, in front of god, and had his father officiate. That's where this issue picks up. Adam is on his honeymoon, about to finally consummate his marriage, when Mel shows up at his door. Adam doesn't want anything to do with his plan to go to the Dominican Republic after Batu Balan's leader, Uqbah. That was the terrorist group that killed his first girlfriend, in Africa, way back in the 1st issue. But Mel won't take no for an answer, so he drugs him and drags him off. On his way there, during his non-coherent moments, Adam is having a lot of conversations with god. Long story short, they find the hut, Ugbah is in it, but Mel gets hurt so Adam's going to have to do it. They have the guy tied up, and Adam has a gun to his head. But then Adam starts talking to him about his mission in life, and how he's serving his god. But you know what? I'm not going to tell you how it ends. I had a hard time with this book, way back in the early issues. I didn't really like the art, and I was having a hard time getting in to the story. But you know what? I stuck with it to the end. I didn't always like it, but I did finish it. So, if you want to know how it ends, you'll either have to go out and buy an issue, or wait for the TPB to come out. I'm sure it won't be longer than 6 or 8 months. I will admit that Steven Seagle wrote a very compelling story. I'm sorry it had to go, but sometimes the smaller titles have to be let go to make room for the new ones. My guy told me he was only ordering 2 or 3 copies a month. That's not very good. Pick up the TPB, give it a once over. You may be surprised.

American Virgin #22 - Vertigo

I'm not exactly sure what the picture on the cover has to do with the contents of the book, but . . . it's interesting. I'll give it that. Well, as we wind down this series, Adam, and his whole "clan" are in Cuba looking up his long estranged father. He also happens to be a minister. Actually a priest. It turns out Mamie is still in love with him. Upon seeing him though, last issue, she had a heart attack. Vanessa ends up being the one that immediately jumps to her aid and starts giving her CPR. But when it appears that isn't going to work, Mel jumps in and shocks her with a lamp cord. Quite the family we got going here. This issue was kind of a touchy-feely book. Cyndi tells Mel she's pregnant. Because, watching him/her in action with the electricity scared the crap out of her. It flashed through her mind . . what would she do if she lost him? Adam has some deep moments with his father. They kind of help each other sort stuff out. And in the end, they both agree that the reason Adam hasn't consummated his marriage, is because they're weren't actually married under the eyes of god. So his father, Rey, offers his services. And Mel is still looking for the guy that killed Adam's first girlfriend. If nothing else . . this book has been consistent. Steven T Seagle has steered this ship on a pretty steady course. There's been a few bumps and surprises along the way, but, I think, he's stayed true to his original vision. It hasn't been one of my favorites, but . . it's something different to read every month. Which really is why I started picking it up in the first place. But now we're nearing the end. It just isn't getting any support. My guy only orders 2 or 3 issues every month. And then he worries if they're going to sell or not. So now we just have to wait and see how he's going to wrap up this whole story.

American Virgin #21 - Vertigo

Unfortunately, for me, I'd have to say that this one is probably in my bottom 10. I've tried to stick with it. Hoping that it would go someplace. But . . . for me . . . nothing. From the looks of the cover, it appears that Adam is going to be a father. He and Vanessa have been going at it like rabbits lately, so . . why not? But it's actually Cyndi, Adam's sister who thinks she's pregnant. But, how can that be? I mean, her lover, Mel, is actually a woman. A mystery for a future book, I guess. Anyways, the whole sordid group are on their way to Havana to find Adam's real father. He and Mamie split up when Adam was young, because her father didn't think she'd have any kind of future with a Cuban. But when they make it to Havana, and they find Adam's father, the priest, they immediately fall passionately into each other's arms. Apparently the spark is still there. Meanwhile, Mel tried to get Adam to cancel the trip because he found out that "Batu Balan's #1 pig is roasting himself in the Dominican Republic. I got unfinished business . . you got unfinished business . . I say we go finish it." And although Adam is tempted, right now he feels that the trip they're on is more important. And on their way, he and Vanessa join the Mile High Club. Who'da thunk it? Anyways, this book isn't terrible. It's just . . . really . . . one big soap-opera. The problem is, it's just not that interesting. And the artwork is definitely not something to jump for joy about. So why am I still buying it? I'm asking myself the same question.

American Virgin #20 - Vertigo

Steven T Seagle has been the writer throughout this series. Becky Cloonan does the art on this issue, and most of the previous ones. She's only had a few fill-ins so far. I think. This issue, Adam has come home, from his "round-the-world" trip, with Vanessa. He was told in a vision . . . quite a while ago now . . . that his true love would be at this beauty pageant that he was guest judge at. That's where he met Cassie. But . . . now she's dead. She was doing some volunteer work in Africa, and was abducted. To make an example of her, they killed her on the internet. Which leads to him starting to question the vision. His best guess is that he picked the wrong girl. So he got a list of the other contestants and starting checking them out. That's how he met Vanessa. On a whim, he decided to go on a trip around the world with her. Just kind of "seat of your pants" type thing. Getting transportation however they could, and staying in hostel's and such. During that trip, they fell in love with each other. And got married. Now he's come home to tell his parents, Mamie and Earl what's happened. As expected, Mamie freaks. As does his publicist, Moon. Mamie wants an immediate annulment. Moon just wants him to not talk about it, until he can figure out what kind of spin to put on it. Basically, he's messing with more than just his own livelihood here. In the middle of all this, his step-brothers, who have been helping him find the other girls, inform him that they have found his real dad. He's in Cuba. Adam immediately wants to head there, but Mamie has other plans. First she wants the whole wedding thing taken care of. After which, she'll allow him to go, as long as she comes along. It took a while for me to get into the story, with these characters. But now, I finally think I'm getting a handle on it all. And honestly, it's just one big soap-opera. I like it more than I did when I first picked it up. Except we had the Quitely covers back then. But it's still not my cup of tea. I keep reading it, hoping that something in it will grab me. But, so far it hasn't. I don't think I'm going to be sticking with this one to much longer.

American Virgin #19 - Vertigo

I have to admit, that after 19 issues, I kinda' like this book. It's different. It's quirky. And from a guy like me, who grew up with nothing but super-hero books, that's saying a lot. I even like these Celia Calle covers. They're different. But . . kinda' neat at the same time. Adam and Vanessa are in Paris now. And they're letting the romance of the city take them over. Adam's still haunted by Cassie's ghost, but he's trying very hard to shut her out. And that's really what the whole book is about. They go from one site to another, like the typical tourists, and they make out every where they can. Adam is so distracted by Cassie, that at one point, when he's talking to Vanessa, he accidentally called her the wrong name. Whoops! Major faus pax. I had a girl do that to me once when I was a teenager. She was drunk, and called me by her boyfriend's name, whom she had just broke up with. Talk about breaking the mood. Anyways, Adam decides that he wants to sleep with Vanessa, so he also has to decide that she's the one. And in order to make that official, he proposes to her. She accepts, and they head to the honeymoon suite. While Cassie's ghost is sitting outside the door crying. The next issue is titled "69". Take it however you like. I would say what's keeping me interested in this book is Steven T Seagle's stories. He seems to be acutely aware of these people's personalities and characters. Maybe he's writing from experience? But I don't know how many teenage boys have been God's spokesmen for abstinence.

American Virgin #18 - Vertigo

I'm actually starting to like this book more. But this story felt more like I was being educated on the Hindu. Or more specifically some aspects of the Indian culture. Adam and Vanessa are touring India now. They start out in Khajuraho, but soon end up in Delhi. While all this is going on, Cyndi is back home and she's falling in love with Mel. The only problem is, she's the only one that knows that Mel is actually a woman. She found out the first time they went to have sex. It's a little hard to hide that fact. She was freaked at first, but now that she's gotten to know him/her better, it doesn't bother her as much. The only thing she's really worried about is how she's going to tell the rest of the family. Adam calls her, and she tries to tell him, but he's so wrapped up in the excitement of the trip, and the feelings that he has for Vanessa, that he doesn't really give her a chance to explain it all. It also appears that he's still being haunted by Cassie's ghost. In India it seems like there's a lot of sexual energy in the air. And it's rubbing off on Adam and Vanessa. Causing them to rub off on each other. At the end of this issue, their guide, noticing the attraction between them, gives them an Indian blessing. I'm not sure if I'm actually enjoying the book now, or if it's just easier to read since I'm starting to remember and understand the characters. But whichever way . . . it is more enjoyable. My only complaint right now is that it seems like in all the different countries that we're visiting, a significant part of the story is being spent on tutoring us. Thanks . . . but I buy comics as an escape. So I'd rather see more plot and dialogue than the cultural lessons.

American Virgin #17 - Vertigo

Adam and Vanessa are in Bangkok now. Vanessa is starting to fray around the edges. Well . . actually, Adam isn't used to living without his conveniences and he's starting to get edgy. In doing so, he's pissing off Vanessa. So they temporarily go their own separate ways. He tries to call his sister to talk about it, but he gets Mel instead. He/she really doesn't help much, other than he/she suggesting that they look for this Shaolin Monk tattoo guy, I guess. Apparently it's a mystical experience, and it helps you to get rid of your inner demons. Which, really, the only one he has right now is Cassie's ghost which just won't leave him alone. So while he's getting the tattoo, as Mel promised, he confronts Cassie and they have sex. Or at least what really, really, feels like sex. Adam is overwhelmed, and then pissed off when he finds out that he's not Cassie's first. She says she knew she was going to die, so she wanted to get it over with before she did. This completely changes his view of her. When they're done having sex, he's able to shut her out of his consciousness. Which is what guys usually do anyways. So I don't know why he's special. So anyways, I don't know the significance of his tattoo yet, but it looks like a Bengal tiger to me, at the base of his spine. He tries to go back to the Hostel where Vanessa is staying. He tells her that he thinks they need to talk. So where does he go from here? Will he ever get laid in the real world? Won't know until next issue.

American Virgin #16 - Vertigo

Ok, I hate to admit it, but . . . this book is getting more interesting. Adam and Vanessa are on their world tour. Right now they're in Japan. Adam really seems to be enjoying his time with her. And so far it's strictly platonic. The nature of their attraction seems to come from them both being able to act themselves around each other. Neither of them seems to be posing, or trying to impress the other. They're truly just enjoying their time and company. Anyways, they've gone to stay with a friend of Vanessa's, Tonya, an old college roommate. She came to Japan to be a teacher, and was offered free room and board if she taught the family she's staying with English. They were supposed to be on a trip when Adam and Vanessa got there, but they weren't, so Adam and Vanessa will have to watch how they act around one another because they're old-school Japanese. Which means they don't believe in anything premarital. Anyways, they really just seem happy. They're exploring the boundaries of their relationship. And everyday is new to them. Unfortunately, Adam does carry baggage with him. In the for of the ghost of his dead fiance Cassie. And right now she's making it clear to him that she doesn't like his flowering relationship. She says it's because she doesn't like how it's changing him. He's doing things now that he wouldn't have done before. And she thinks, " . . . . it's leading you straight to hell." At that moment Vanessa knocks on Adams door. He doesn't want her to come in because he's not sure if she would be able to see Cassie or not. But that's not Vanessa's intentions. She respects her hosts wishes. She says she just want to give him something . . . . and she throws a pair of her panties at him. This isn't really the direction that I thought this book would be taking. So . . . . I'm pleasantly surprised. Of course Steven T. Seagle has always crafted a great tale. He's really the reason I started picking up this series at all. Well . . . that and the first couple of covers were done by Frank Quitely. But, more than once I've thought about dropping this one. Right now, it looks like I'll be sticking around. At least through the rest of this 5 part story-arc. I like being surprised by a book.

American Virgin #15 - Vertigo

This book has taken kind of an interesting turn. Adam, following the visions of his dead fiance', has decided to roam around free spirited with Vanessa. She's one of the girls from the Beauty Pageant, where he was told he would find his true love. She's a free spirit, and she's decided to roam around the world for a while to find herself. So Adam, in a search for himself and his true love, has decided to tag along. Their first stop is Rio de Janeiro. It just happens to be during Carnevale. So it's all pretty exciting, and a head rush for him. I'm sure there's a lot of endorphins flowing around. Anyways, he's having a good time with Vanessa, but . . . . he's feeling awful tempted. You know . . . by the libidinous desires. So he's conflicted about whether he should pursue this path, or ask god's forgiveness and move on. But then in talking to Vanessa, he finds out that she's a virgin also. They share a moment, and he decides he's going to go to Japan with her. They're able to catch a ride aboard a cargo ship. Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Cyndi is testing the waters, as it were, with Mel. Don't know if that stands for Melvin, or Melinda, but they're having a good time of it either way. Cyndi thinks that if she doesn't think about it to much, that she'll be ok with it. Of course the attachments help too. Anyways, our new storyline seems more exciting than the previous 2 or 3. So I guess I'll stick with it a little while longer to see where it goes. Plus, I like that this book is completely different from anything else I read. It's a nice change of pace.

American Virgin #14 - Vertigo

It's taken 14 issues, but I finally think I have a handle on these characters. Well . . . most of them anyways. Last issue we learned that Mel was actually a girl. He/she came on to Cyndi, and that's when we find out. But before anything can happen, a palm tree comes crashing through the roof of the pool house. Seems there's a hurricane getting ready to blow in to town. Anyways, Adam goes off to judge his pageant, because he still looking for one of the girls on his list. Come to find out, the make-up girl for the current pageant, is the one name he hadn't been able to find. When she was in the pageant she changed her name. And when he was in the crashed plane, hence to cover, it was she who he saw as his saviour as he was about to drown. So, believing in signs, he thinks that all the signs are pointing towards her. But she's leaving town right after the pageant. She's going touring. Where? "Don't know. That's what touring's all about. Wherever I can get a cheap flight, or a free place to crash . . . sorry . . . stay . . . wherever the wind takes me." So on the last page of the issue, Adam decides to go along with her, and find out if their love is real. Interesting book. I don't know if it's necessarily my cup of tea. But, I do enjoy Steven T Seagle's writing. So I'm giving it a try.

American Virgin #13 - Vertigo

Ok! This one is starting to get a little weird. Well . . . it's really been weird right from the beginning. Perhaps I should say . . . it's really getting weirder. Mel has come to Adam's house, and Adam is afraid that he'll let the beans spill about what happened in Australia. But Mel really didn't even come here for Adam. Even though he does take out the assassins that are hiding in the bushes. He really came here for Cyndi, Adams illegitimate sister. He seems to really have a thing for her. Well Adam is still on the look-out for "the one". And he goes to meet the third one, just as she's giving birth to her bastard child. Since her mother thinks she's a slut, she won't help her and with Adam's timely arrival, he has to play mid-wife. A role he's never done before. But he steps up and does it, and is amazed by the creation of a new life. Needless to say, I don't think she is . . . "the one". But he does seem interested, and I think the feelings mutual, in a girl at the new teen pageant that he's helping to judge. Her name is Vanessa Upton. We don't get much more information than that this issue. But I think this will be an interest that we'll be expounding upon in the future. And finally, at the end of this issue, when Cyndi and Mel decide to get down to business . . . we find out that Mel . . . is actually a woman. Like I said, just when you think that there couldn't possibly be another twist that they can throw in to the fire . . . whammo!! One comes out of nowhere. But I guess it does help to make the book more interesting. I mean, how long can they really carry this virgin prophet thing? Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

American Virgin #12 - Vertigo

Ok, I'm back to being a little put off by this series. I know that last issue, Adam went in to the Black Box Room. It's at his Uncle's mansion, the Governor. They're having some kind of big sex party. So this Black Room is a big room that all these naked people go in. They can't see each other. They can only touch. He's looking for Versailles. She's the first on his list. He found out that he hasn't found his soul-mate yet. But, she was one of the girls at the Beauty Pageant. His 2 step-brothers are helping him find her. Anyways, this Versailles is the first on the list. Obviously, she's not the one. So he moves on to the second one, Deandra. She's working a cruise ship. He kisses her, but there's no magic. In the meantime, Adam's step father and mother, are having financial problems with their chalice channel. So Earl has come to talk to him, to try to get him to help get things back on track. Meanwhile, Cyndi, who's in the hospital, has some goons coming after her. All we know is, " . . . tell her she's dead meat, if we don't get Mr. Helios's package back." But we don't know what that package is, or why she has it. When Adam goes back to the house, he finds Cyndi and her abductor. It's that guy who helped him, in Australia, find the bastard who killed his fiance on the internet. But I can't remember his name. Anyways, the story just doesn't seem all that cohesive. It feels like we're trying to fit a bunch of stuff together, but . . . it just doesn't fit right. So anyways, I'm back to being on the fence about this book. I was starting to like it. But now I'm back to not giving a crap.

American Virgin #11 - Vertigo

Adam really gets himself into some messed up situations. I guess that's the lesson he's here to learn. Last issue his plane slide off the tarmac in to the ocean. He survived. Obviously. But while down there he had a vision. A vision that Cassie saved him. Now, he's obsessed with finding out who the other girls were at the beauty pageant where he met Cassie. She put it in his head the maybe she wasn't the one he was supposed to meet. So he's hired his 2 step brothers to find the other 5. Oh yeah, he hired them to find his real father also. But in getting the list from the pageant headquarters, he got shanghaied in to hosting this years pageant. Also, when he went on the Chalice channel to answer questions about his accident, he got shanghaied in to covering his step father for a week. And now, the first girl that his brothers found, is a party girl at one of his Uncle Lane's parties. So in order to meet her, he's going to have to go in to the black box. "Through here. Mask on. Clothes off. No lights. No talking. No regrets . . . . because no one's watching." What has he gotten himself in to this time? Guess we won't know till next issue.

American Virgin #10 - Vertigo

So this is another retrospective. Adam apparently got in a car crash. As he's underwater, his life begins to flash before his eyes. With a little help from Cassie. He's remembering growing up at the Chamberlain mansion. He remembers his father left. Then his mother left. He lost family and he gained family, Morgan, Levi and Cyndi. Finally one day, after seeing his uncle having a sex party by the pool, Adam decided that he needed to be saved. So he ran to his father's show, and asked to be saved right that second. He didn't care who was watching. And that's when god spoke to him. He told him he was going to be with one woman, whom he recently saw. Since he was just in the Teen Miami Pageant, he assumed it was the girl he saw there, Cassie. But now he's realizing that he saw a bunch of girls there, and it could have been any one of them. This is devastating, because he's been recently living his life in the pursuit of Cassie's killer. He's done this out of a sense of loyalty for her, because he thought she was supposed to be his one. And it's with that revelation that this book ends. I'm still not thrilled with this book, but I am getting into the characters more. So I guess I'll see how the next story-arc plays out.

American Virgin #9 - Vertigo

I'm still having a little bit of a hard time getting into this book. And I'm not thrilled with the art. But, this issue pretty much wraps up the first storyline about Adam searching for the killer of his girlfriend. There are also some good messages in here. Adam finds out that Mel has been using him all along to get to the killer. Well, he's not after that killer per se, but rather the religious group that he represents. Once Adam figures this out, all he has to do is find Mel and he'll find the killer. But it's kind of an empty victory. He realizes that he can't kill someone, and that he's never going to be able to convert him. So he comes in with the upper hand, but ends up laying underneath him ready to be flayed. But then Mel comes in and shoots him. Adam is kind of relieved and sorrowed at the same time. Which is where the other message comes in, because when Adam first got there, he and the killer had a heated debate about their beliefs. And, where I see the real problem, and the same can be said about the different religions in our world, is that both sides feel that they're right. And both sides feel that god has instructed them on what to do. And both sides feel that what they're doing is for the greater good not only of their people, but of the world. But, what I don't think both sides are getting is that they're serving the same god. Different names. But essentially the same god. So anyways, this book kind of reflects whats going on in the world now. In a way scaled down version, but still the same. And this is the first one of the 9 that has really given me something to think about.

American Virgin #8 - Vertigo

I'm trying. I really am. I'll explain the story this issue, then I'll tell you how I feel about it. Adam, who's girlfriend was decapitated on the internet, has finally found the man responsible. In order to "hook up" with him, he has to play a role. His new friend Alexis, a transvestite, helped him find him and get close to him. He's in a gay club where anything goes. This guy likes it rough, and he likes 'em young. Adam is perfect for him. With a little primping, and some leather. Mel and Cyndi, Adam's sister, are watching out for him by serving as backup. Clauda, Mel's sister, is also on hand. She's a hardened dike who's falling hard for Cyndi. Adam, once down in the dungeon, is trying to fight back, but is also so distraught that he's seeing images of Cassie everywhere. Through their banter, the guy figures out who Adam is, and is going to kill him. However, with perfect timing, the police raid the club, and he slip out an exit before making good on his threat. As he's leaving he turns to Adam and says, "If I see you again? I will kill you, BEFORE I fuck you!". Somehow, they all make it out of the club, without getting arrested, except for Alexis who assault's an officer to help Adam escape. Adam also gets snapped by a paparazzi on the way out. When Moon, Adam's manager and publicist, finds out, he's ecstatic. "This is 100% mint gold in terms of booking you speaking tour . . . . . . I could kiss you." Ok, after writing that, I admit I'm starting to get a handle on the characters. 8 issues later. But the story just doesn't thrill me. The first 8 issues seem pretty single minded to me. I mean he's the head of a religion. A world wide speaker. The role model for millions of kids. I know he's distraught over Cassie, but there's got to be so much more going on in his life that trying to find this one guy. Yes it would be top of mind, but there should be some depth to the story. There should be more that just the one storyline. Some sub-plots. Some depth. Anyways, that's why I have a problem with this book. That, and I'm not thrilled about the art either. And, there's still one more issue for this arc.

American Virgin #7 - Vertigo

Ok, I'm not exactly sure where to start with this book. As I've said, I really am not sure I'm going to keep buying it. It's really not holding my interest. There's a lot of characters, Adam, Cyndi, Deacon, Claudia, Mel, Moon, Mamie and Alex. And they're really a messed up bunch of people. Adam is the main character. He's the leader of his own religion, a religion built on celibacy and virginity. But he's in anguish because his fiance' was killed, while she was doing some missionary work over in Africa. She was beheaded and it was telecast over the internet. Mamie is Adam's mother, and Cyndi is his sister. Moon is his business manager / agent. Mel is the guy Adam got hooked up with to help him find his fiance' murderer, and Claudia used to be his girlfriend. Now they just hang out, and she's interested in Cyndi. Deacon is Adam's best friend. And Alex is a pre-op transvestite that he met at his last conference. Are you up to speed now? Me neither. All I know is that this issue, Mel finds out that the murderer is going to be at this gay club, so Adam gets dressed up and goes in trying to meet him. He finds him, but spends most of his time talking to Alex. On the final splash page though, the guy asks Adam if he wants to party.

American Virgin #6 - Vertigo

Ok, they're trying to develop the characters some more. To me, this book is just a little hard to get into right away. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it. It's just that in the 30 days between issues, you kinda' forget about the characters. I remember the over all theme, Adam is a 20 something virgin, who heads a religion based on virginity, and the woman he loves, Cassandra, was murdered, shortly before they were to be married, in Africa where she was doing missionary work. After that, I have to get in to it every month, because I don't remember what else is going on. Now once the story gets rolling I'm fine. But it's just that the characters aren't really memorable enough to carry with me over a long period of time. And I know that that's hard to accomplish. This is a new book, with new characters, and a new type of genre. It's going to take time to build the repoir between the characters and the reader. Now the jist of this one is that they are holding one of their religious conferences in Melbourne at the same time as the Melbourne Midsumma Gay Festival. Adam comes into contact with a "Female" reporter and befiends her/him. He even uses her situation in his opening speech about how we're all on the same path . Different places, but same path. And the theme of this speech seems to have a big impact on the conference. Anyways Mel is still looking for Cassandra's killers, and Adam finally watches the whole murder scene on the internet. Overall a decent story. Like I said though, the problem is I'll have forgotten all of this by the time the next issue comes out.

American Virgin #4 / #5 - Vertigo

Ok this series is a little strange. Adam is this Christian evangelist who spreads the word of Virginity and Adultery. He's a 20 something Virgin who is saving himself for his one true love, Cassie. Well she decides to go to Africa as a Christian Missionary, before she gets married. Ironically, she ends up dead. And not just dead. Raped, killed and beheaded. Yowtch! So Adam has to go to Africa to claim her body. Oh yeah, he found out all of this happened because it was taped and put on the internet. After seeing it, he goes to Africa with Cyndi, his step-sister, and his guide Mel. They go to Swaziland to claim her body. After a couple of incidents he finds who he thinks is responsible for her death. The guy didn't actually do it, but before killing himself, he does kind of put Adam on the right track. So in issue #5 he goes home to his mansion in Miami. His mother and father appear to be the driving force behind his evangelism. And right now they're working hard to keep him on track. They have Cassie's funeral and Adam really loses it. But Mel gets a lead that the Axman in the internet video is in Australia. Adam decides to continue his search for her killer. And Cyndi's going with him again. Like I said this series is a little strange. I don't really understand the whole purpose of all this. And there's a lot of religion thrown about. The only reason I'm really trying to stick with it is because I'm a fan of Steven T Seagle who is writing it. But I don't know how much longer I'm going to wade through it. Becky Cloonan does the art. It's . . . . . . ok. But it's not really my style. It has a very simplistic, indy kind of look to it. I mean, don't get me wrong, obviously Becky has talent. It's just not my cup of tea. I'm more in to the flashy, very detailed type work. But my reading habits, and the market in general, is tending to veer away from the traditional super-hero genre. That's always going to be the bread and butter, but now, we're starting to get a little more experimentation. Such as this. We'll see how it goes.