Crossed Badlands #11-12

Written By: David Lapham

Art By: Jacen Burrows

Colours By: Digikore Studios

Avatar Press

It has been pretty clear since the beginning of Edmund’s arc in Crossed: Badlands that he is nothing short of a coward. However, cowardice has it’s advantages. The greatest perk being survival. He has now witnessed and lived to see the end of 4 severe herds of ‘geeks’, all because he was to dastardly to do anything more than run for the hills.

His goal to become a man is given many opportunity’s for completion but, his yellow nature prevents his success. Sure he hasn’t peed himself in awhile, good on him. This doesn’t mean anything though, when you tally up his death tab. One which says that he is all the more willing to kill a human who stands in his way than a Crossed chasing his back. To put it simply: He is all kinds of smart, but, by accident.

There is a special appearance in this issue of a psycho-man from not long ago. You really don’t want to miss it! I can’t wait to see the outcome of this meet up and the destiny that is Edmund’s to behold. And, if I am not mistaken this will also give more insight to his new friends past. One which we have already learned is quite disturbed and gruesome.

With every release of Crossed: Badlands I find myself becoming increasingly caught up in this tight, well-planned, blood-show and the more attuned I become to it’s horrors, the more they seem to seep into my dreams. The third arc is holding true to this pattern of terror inducing tales by adding an extra bit of creepy with clowns, character re-appearances and a coward who has yet to receive his due death.

Burrows included many spectacular spreads throughout these issues and really steps up the gore. The ‘geeks’ have officially arrived and the trail of blood and guts proves it. His portrayal of Edmund forces you to become quite emotionally attached to this natural born survivalist. You can feel his self-doubt and misery, how much he hates his self-protective nature and wishes for death, throughout every panel. As any thought passes his expression alters, almost effortlessly from the last, giving it a very pure and emotionally exhausted atmosphere to the story.

All in all, I have never anticipated a Crossed instalment more than I do #13. The plot thus far has proven tremendously satisfying and there comes an added bit of intrigue from the character tie-in. This a must buy for any Crossed or horror fan.

9.5 big round butts out of 10.

Related articles

• Crossed: Badlands #10

• Crossed: Badlands #7-9 (comicsforge.com)
• Ferals #7 (comicsforge.com)
• Anathema #2 (comicsforge.com)
• Chew: Secret Agent Poyo One-Shot (comicsforge.com)