Arriving in another biome of the mysterious planet, emotional support pets Athos, Porthos, and Lovey must traverse the alien city without their mech suits to find their owner, Doc. As Porthos and Lovey argue about the state of their mission, Athos keeps the group focused on Doc’s trail. However, their mission might change at the end of their adventure. Pornsak Pichetshote and Jesse Lonergan take readers to the climax of Man’s Best #4, where Athos, Porthos, and Lovey learn more about Doc and her original plans for the journey. 

Shedding light on Lovey’s backstory, Pichetshote humanizes the gruff dog and gives a reason for his temper and negative attitude towards Porthos and their desire to save Doc. I am constantly impressed with how well-defined the animals are, along with how complicated their relationships are not only with each other but with humanity as well. The longer the group is away from Doc, the more their faith in rescuing her dissolves. With Lovey’s pessimism, Porthos’s optimism, and Athos’s frustration, the pets naturally come to blows again and wonder if they are too different to find similarities and work together. If our pets show our best qualities, then they can show us the worst aspects of ourselves. 

Much like the previous issues, Pichetshote and Lonergan dive into unique biomes such as floating balloon-like platforms and an intergalactic metropolis. The inclusion of the pets having a car chase and needing all three to operate the vehicle demonstrate the need to work together over their perceived differences. It also demonstrates both the pets’ intelligence and the ability to overcome problems in a dangerous world. Their experiences within the world show the need for us to work together to survive, and if we cannot, then we will perish. But they never shy from the struggle and hardship that goes into acting as a team. 

When a new issue drops, I cannot wait to see what gorgeous and wild world Lonergan draws, and I am always impressed with his artistic versatility. Balancing an alien car chase with big emotional beats, Lonergan captures the gorgeous soul of the book in his art and expressive paneling. Along with Jeff Powell’s lettering, Man’s Best #4 is a truly visually stunning book.

Arriving at the climax of the series, Pichetshote and Lonergan tee up for the finale in Man’s Best #4. Following up on the emotionally rich themes, you still feel an extremely personal attachment to the pets and experience the horror of Doc’s actual plan. Never shying away from the difficult and sometimes harsh nature of humanity, Man’s Best #4 shows that our pets are not truly innocent but are very much like us, warts and all. 

Story: Pornsak Pichetshote Art/Colors: Jesse Lonergan Letterer: Jeff Powell
Story: 9.4 Art: 9.4 Overall: 9.3 Recommendation: Read

BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle