Chris and Sofia are in the wrong place at the wrong time when a bomb goes off, threatening to add two more corpses to the body count that’s been growing on their own mission to get back at the murderers who started them on this path to begin with.

The Sheriff of Babylon #8 is about so much more than what’s listed above. Nassir. Sofia. What’s the real connection that brings these two together? What’s their history? What demons does Nassir have in his closet? All of that is explored here as Nassir is interrogated and brought into the mission at hand, the capture of the terrorist Abu Rahim. But, is everyone on board with that mission?

Writer Tom King has woven a tale that’s so much more than its parts. The comic is one part murder mystery and one part look into the war in Iraq and particularly the Green Zone.

It’s that last part which is really on display here by King. Much of the comic is that history of Nassir and his connection to Sofia and in just a few panels King pulls us out of that and reminds us that this is all taking place in the middle of a war zone where danger is all around.

King’s writing is enhanced by Mitch Gerads. The details Gerads puts in every panel is amazing. It can be subtle, but it adds so much to the overall story. It’s absolutely amazing and a masterclass in storytelling.

A perfect example of this is towards the end of the comic which features the use of a Superman sheet that features comic book panels. For many, the use of this sheet might be overlooked, but its coloring makes it stand out, almost screaming at the reader to be noticed. It’s small details like this that adds so much to the story. Here, a symbol of American ideals, freedom, justice, AMERICAN way, can’t be ignored and underlies a theme that’s been threaded throughout a lot of the series. A perfect example of imagery that enhances the dialogue.

The Sheriff of Babylon #8 is another issue of this absolutely amazing series, one of the best of the year and the best comic Vertigo has released in quite some time. This is the perfect combination of story and art which come together to tell a story that’s as entertaining as it makes you think.

Story: Tom King Art: Mitch Gerads
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy