[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writer: Jon Rivera
Story by: Gerard Way & Jon Rivera
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Colorist: Nick Filiardi
Summary
“Adventures Inside Earth” read the cover of Cave Carson’s original appearances in the ’50’s. Issue #4 of Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye gets to this point finally, as Cave, Chloe and Wild Dog continue to explore Muldroog and try to figure what happened to it’s people.
Cave is experiencing memories of the first time he met his wife as they search about Muldroog. Chloe finds a door, Cave finds a deceased team member from the old days. When Chloe opens the door it gets really bad as Wild Dog is having visions of his deceased Marine Corps buddies and Cave sees his wife, beckoning him to join her in death. Chloe manages to close the door before anyone is hurt.
Shortly, the Mighty Mole 2 arrives, with Johnny and co. prepared to take Cave back to EBX. As they try to subdue Cave, they are attacked by a third party. It doesn’t go well for this team as a couple are killed and Cave forces them to get back aboard the Mole 2 and head for home. Cave, Chloe and Wild Dog pull out and use the original Mighty Mole to find a refuge used by the Muldroog. There they have a sad reunion with Cave’s in-laws as he has to tell them their daughter is dead.
Positives
This was a nice action oriented issue in which we learn a bit more about Muldroog and the mystery of their disappearance gets a little bigger. It really captured that ’50’s adventure vibe. However, there were also some deep character moments, both in Cave’s reunion with his in-laws, but also in a flashback to Chloe and her mom that opened the issue. It painted a deep divide between Cave and Chloe that Cave may not realize is so significant.
Negatives
This issue was weakest in the sequence with the opened door. While it created a mystery that will sure to pay off later, it wasn’t as strong as the second half of the issue with the arrival of the Mighty Mole 2 and the appearance of Cave’s in-laws.
Verdict
This book continues to straddle two worlds- retro nostalgic adventure fun and contemporary cutting edge mature comics. And it does so admirably. Like all the Young Animal books, Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye is its own unique genre.
