Pathfinder: City Of Secrets #4

By Jim Zub, Leandro Oliveira, & Ross Campbell

The Pathfinder crew continue their adventures in the city that is truly full of secrets. This miniseries has been greatly successful in focusing on multiple characters in just a short amount of pages, with each character getting their deserved time in the spotlight in every issue. Merisiel continues her crime spree with the Gallowed thieves but her loyalty is tested when she begins to have second thoughts. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew follow the holy magic of Sarenrae below the city to confront new and more dangerous enemies. City Of Secrets #4 is packed with action and a lot of development, both in character and in story.

Kyra, and the Sarenrae she believes in, are the main points of focus for the crew. This miniseries has combined and incorporated a lot of mythological elements, but the most interesting of all would have to be magic so it was nice to see magical forces take center stage this issue, in story and in action. Magic adds a lot of diversity to the situations and it made most scenes this issue even more entertaining. Merisiel, still separated from the group and having misadventures with the thieves, is put in some awkward situations which force her to question where her loyalties lie. Her true morality is tested when faced to make a terrible decision that could effect the outcome of the story and all those involved. Even with minimal interaction with the others throughout this whole series, Merisiel still provides an added story arc that serves as a nice change of pace from the other’s.

When it comes to Pathfinder’s art, nothing feels rushed or out of place. Oliveira’s characters look great, as they have all series. His differentiating background types provide an overall look that is constantly changing. His combination of dynamic poses and detailed setting create great artistic structure and flow throughout every page. Campbell’s colors reflect the time, setting, and mood of every scene. The changing hues and shades keep every page fresh. The filters for colors continue to reflect the old-time setting and medieval vibe of the story. The art, from Oliveira and Campbell, perfectly represents the action of the story from the lights to the shadows and everything in between.

Writer Jim Zub certainly knows how to build hype and execute powerful, emotional and physical scenes when called for. The only problem plaguing this miniseries currently is its length. With only two issues remaining and so much story to wrap up the challenge of crafting a complete story seems difficult, but Zub and company have proven themselves up until now, so this story, and its soon conclusion, are in capable hands.