Wolf #6 picks up almost right where the previous issue left off, with Ales Kot dropping the reader right into the middle of a conversation between Anita and an unknown person. The last issue began by showing Antoine Wolfe in some sort of prison, five years after the events that separated him and Anita and switched back and forth between Wolfe’s story and Anita’s. Wolf #6 is largely told from Anita’s perspective, and delves further into the five year gap between the last arc and this one. Anita said previously that she had spent some time searching for Wolfe, but hadn’t found anything concrete, and he is largely missing from this issue.

Despite Wolfe’s physical absence from the narrative, he remains a central character. Though Anita was angry when she left Wolfe, she has spent almost every day of those five years searching for him. Wolf #6 serves as something of a summary issue, told by Anita and Freddy and unpacks a some of the dense plot, bit by bit. The recap fills in gaps in the story and highlights some plot points (and characters) that are likely going to receive more focus in coming issues, Antoine’s brother Duane being one example.

Though this arc is a five part story titled “Apocalypse soon,” there hasn’t been much mention of the end times. However, the addition of new characters, Anita discovering some “magical stuff” and the continued hunt for Antoine Wolfe suggests that lots of action will be packed into the next three issues. Both Anita and Freddy mentioned “doing magic,” which will hopefully bring more myths to the forefront of the story. Readers did get a glimpse of how myths function in the real world with Yeti in Wolf #5, but pulling in more would establish more of the overall worldbuilding of the series. The world of Anita, Wolfe, Freddy, and Isobel is fascinating, but readers still don’t know much about it outside of what the characters have experienced during the story.

Ricardo López Ortiz’s art continues to lend each character dynamic expressions and movement, and Lee Loughridge’s colors lend the dry desert scenes a lovely vibrance. Especially notable are the depictions of the myths. Anita especially has a very human quality, even when she’s a werewolf.

This issue largely functions for clarification of the narrative, but it’s very much enjoyable. Between the art, Anita’s wry narration and development as a character, and the banter between the characters, the story doesn’t feel like it’s at a standstill in Wolf #6. It is certainly heading in a new direction, and though it’s only slowly becoming clearer what that direction is, Wolf will surely keep readers guessing.

Story: Ales Kot Art: Ricardo López Ortiz Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.3 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review