Eddie Stallion may be one of the year’s breakout protagonists, but his father George steals the spotlight in the newest issue of End of Life. They appear to be complete opposites, but your mind will change by the final pages. Writer Kyle Starks continues to build the world surrounding Eddie, bringing fresh details about George and the origins of the criminal organization known as the Menagerie to light.
Title: End of Life #4
Creatives: Kyle Starks (Writer), Steve Pugh (Artist), Chris O’Halloran (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer)
Characters: Eddie Stallion, George Stallion, Leona, Trent, Sophie
Villain: The Menagerie, Mr. Drahthaar, Richard Smiley, Kodiak
Format: Ongoing Series
Our Rating: 8.5/10 Stars
The Origins Of George Stallion And The Menagerie
The Menagerie is hot on Eddie’s trail, resulting in one of their trackers, Mr. Drahthaar, showing up at his father’s house. A game of cat and mouse plays out between the assassin and the elder Stallion, as the latter shockingly covers for his son. The previous chapters showed us there’s no love lost between Eddie and his father, but George still protects him when his life is on the line. It turns out parental love wins in the end, bringing a genuinely warm moment to an otherwise light-hearted series.
George soon tells Drahthaar about the origins of the Menagerie. He and his squad mates started it as a Hit-Man club after the war. The elderly man recounts the story of his fellow soldier, Hedgehog, who was killed in retaliation for a job. George slowly chronicles how he hunted down every militia member responsible before threatening Drahthaar. He tells him Hedgehog was just a friend, and to imagine what he would do to someone who endangers his family. Starks allows the mask to slip from this frail old man, revealing a hardened killer still lurking underneath.
The Brilliance of Steve Pugh And Chris O’Halloran’s Artistic Choices
Artist Steve Pugh renders George’s tale like a gritty war movie. The founding members of the Menagerie come together on page nine, the panel edges cleverly ragged and torn like an old photograph. Colorist Chris O’Halloran places a weathered yellow film over the scenes, making them look like they’re playing on an old movie reel. A permanent scowl is etched on George’s face, never wavering even as the bodies pile up around him. That same expression remains in the present day. Despite his age, he’s as ready to kill now as he ever was.
Where Has Eddie Been?
Meanwhile, Eddie’s ready to bail. All the trouble coming to his doorstep has left him eager to move on, and he almost does. But he soon learns gas station owner Leona and her son Trent, two of the only people in town he cares for, are in danger and reluctantly goes to assist them. He’s still hilarious though. Pugh paints his face with indignation when he learns the town handyman, Cooper, is the one who has his gun, while letterer Becca Carey uses twin arrows to highlight the words in his text bubbles, making his speech pop off the page.
Eddie’s fascinating because he’s not a straightforward action hero, or an indestructible devil like John Wick. He’s a selfish screw-up. But this issue proves he has a heart. There are people Eddie cares about, and he’ll put his life on the line to protect them. Starks nails how his motivations parallel his father’s, showing they’re not so different after all.
Verdict: Should you buy End of Life #4?
End of Life #4 shows us the real George and Eddie. One’s a father willing to cover for a son he claims to hate, while the other intervenes to save friends despite asserting he couldn’t care less. They have big hearts, but they’d never admit it. This book is quickly blossoming from a fun action-comedy into a story about familial bonds and the capacity for change. I may have picked up this series for the stylized violence, but I’m staying for the captivating evolution of Eddie and George.
‘End Of Life’ #4 Review: The Stallions Aren’t So Different After All
End of Life #4 shows us the real George and Eddie. One’s a father willing to cover for a son he claims to hate, while the other intervenes to save friends despite asserting he couldn’t care less. They have big hearts, but they’d never admit it. This book is quickly blooming from a fun action-comedy into a story about familial bonds and the capability to change. I may have picked up this book for the stylized action, but I’m staying for the captivating evolution of Eddie and George.
