There is something about Manifest Destiny which defies a certain amount of logic.  Although it is ostensibly a semi-historical story about the Lewis and Clark expedition into the American interior, it is also re-imagined with the this wilderness being full of crazy creatures, zombie inducing plants and structures that look suspiciously like the St. Louis Arch showing up all over the place where there seems to be some sort of new danger.  While the stories contradict either what we have found in history books or in the fossil record, it obviously also requires some suspension of disbelief, and generally speaking it has been worth it to read the amazing stories that could have been written out of early books from the American West.

While that suspension of disbelief is needed throughout, there are in this issue some which are even a bit much, and even go back to the campy sci-fi serials of the 1950s in terms of how they operate.  As the team works through the most recent disappearance of a team member, they also have to come to terms with the Fezron, the strange almost human like blue bird animal that they encountered in the previous issue.  It is the Fezron which drives the plot forward in this issue, acting equal parts as comic relief and to keep the story line going.  It is also the Fezron where the story kind of falls apart.  While some of the other bizarre encounters in this wilderness have seemed plausible in a certain way, this one seems too far fetched through its basic design.

The series is still one which deserves a look as it embodies what can be great about this medium, that imagination knows no real bounds in comics.  Equally this issue is not the best representation of the series.  A first time reader might be confused with the obvious plot gimmicks to make this move along so quickly, and only readers of the series as whole will probably think of this issue as a must read.  It is still entertaining enough, but not up to the level of some others in the series thus far.

Story: Chris Dingess Art: Matthew Roberts and Owen Gieni
Story: 7.7 Art: 7.7 Overall: 7.7 Recommendation: Read

Image provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.