Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Big Two

    Recent

    • Micro Reviews: What the F@&$ is an Under York?

      Daniel Gehen
      February 21, 2019
      Big Two Reviews, DC Comics, Dynamite, Indie, Marvel Comics, Reviews, Valiant
    • 2.5

      Review: Batman #65 and the Price of Borrowing From Better Tales

      Daniel Gehen
      February 20, 2019
      Big Two, Big Two Reviews, DC Comics, Reviews
      2.5
    • Monday Morning Pick 'Em - February 20th 2019

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2019
      Columns, Dynamite, Image, Marvel Comics, Miscellaneous Comic Book Content, Monday Morning Pick 'Em
    • Micro Reviews: Wonder Week!

      Daniel Gehen
      February 14, 2019
      DC Comics, Dynamite, Image, Marvel Comics, Reviews
    • 5.0

      Review: Wonder Twins #1 Is a Wondrous First Issue

      Daniel Gehen
      February 14, 2019
      Big Two, Big Two Reviews, DC Comics
      5.0
    • 4.0

      Review: "Batman Troika TPB" Brings Back The Classic Bat

      Daniel Gehen
      February 9, 2019
      Big Two, Big Two Reviews, DC Comics
      4.0
    • Friday Favorites: Crisis On Infinite Earths

      Daniel Gehen
      February 8, 2019
      Columns, DC Comics, Friday Favorites
    • 0.5

      Review: 'Heroes In Crisis' #5 Illuminates The Series' Fundamental Flaws

      Daniel Gehen
      January 30, 2019
      Big Two, Big Two Reviews, DC Comics
      0.5
    • Marvel's Conan the Outdated Barbarian

      Daniel Gehen
      January 29, 2019
      Big Two, Marvel Comics
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie

    Recent

    • Micro Reviews: What the F@&$ is an Under York?

      Daniel Gehen
      February 21, 2019
      Big Two Reviews, DC Comics, Dynamite, Indie, Marvel Comics, Reviews, Valiant
    • Monday Morning Pick 'Em - February 20th 2019

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2019
      Columns, Dynamite, Image, Marvel Comics, Miscellaneous Comic Book Content, Monday Morning Pick 'Em
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
      Classic Comics, Fantagraphics, News, Press Release
    • Micro Reviews: Wonder Week!

      Daniel Gehen
      February 14, 2019
      DC Comics, Dynamite, Image, Marvel Comics, Reviews
    • Interview: Caitlin Kittredge talks the future of Witchblade

      Daniel Gehen
      February 12, 2019
      Indie, Interviews, Top Cow
    • 5.0

      Review: A Wondrous Journey With "Wandering Island Vol. 2"

      Daniel Gehen
      February 7, 2019
      Dark Horse, Manga, Reviews
      5.0
    • 2.0

      Review: Vindication #1 Deserves Incarceration

      Daniel Gehen
      February 7, 2019
      Image, Indie, Reviews, Top Cow
      2.0
    • 4.5

      Review: 'G.I. Joe: Sierra Muerte' Orders Up Action À La Carte

      Daniel Gehen
      February 6, 2019
      IDW, Indie
      4.5
    • 4.5

      Review: Red Sonja #1 is a Showcase of Biting Satire

      Daniel Gehen
      February 6, 2019
      Dynamite, Indie, Reviews
      4.5
    • Action Lab Entertainment
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Reviews
  • Manga

    Recent

    • 5.0

      Review: A Wondrous Journey With "Wandering Island Vol. 2"

      Daniel Gehen
      February 7, 2019
      Dark Horse, Manga, Reviews
      5.0
    • Review: Weekly Shonen Jump’s New App Experience

      Daniel Gehen
      January 23, 2019
      Manga, Reviews
    • VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF URUSEI YATSURA SIGNATURE EDITIONS

      Daniel Gehen
      January 16, 2019
      Manga, News, Press Release
    • Interview: Andy Nakatani and the Future of Weekly Shonen Jump

      Daniel Gehen
      December 19, 2018
      Interviews, Manga
    • VIZ Media Launches Shojo Manga Series - KAKURIYO: BED & BREAKFAST FOR SPIRITS

      Daniel Gehen
      December 13, 2018
      Manga, Press Release
    • 74%

      Review: "Juni Taisen: Zodiac War" Vol. #1 Murders My Perceptions

      Daniel Gehen
      November 26, 2018
      Manga, Reviews
      74%
    • Comictober 2018: GYO By Junji Ito

      Daniel Gehen
      October 28, 2018
      Columns, Manga
    • When Japanese Influences Meet Western Art Schools: a roundtable

      Daniel Gehen
      May 19, 2017
      Manga
    • Review: 'ZOMBIES ASSEMBLE' #1

      Daniel Gehen
      May 12, 2017
      Indie, Manga, Reviews
    • Reviews
  • Small Press

    Recent

    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 1/26/19 to 2/1/19

      Daniel Gehen
      February 4, 2019
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 1/19/19 to 1/25/19

      Daniel Gehen
      January 28, 2019
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 1/12/19 to 1/18/19

      Daniel Gehen
      January 21, 2019
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 1/7/19 to 1/11/19

      Daniel Gehen
      January 14, 2019
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 12/1/18 to 12/7/18

      Daniel Gehen
      December 10, 2018
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 10/27/18 to 11/2/18

      Daniel Gehen
      November 5, 2018
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 10/6/18 to 10/12/18

      Daniel Gehen
      October 15, 2018
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 9/29/18 to 10/5/18

      Daniel Gehen
      October 8, 2018
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI -- Small Press Comics Criticism and Whatnot for 9/22/18 to 9/28/18

      Daniel Gehen
      October 1, 2018
      ICYMI, Small Press
    • ICYMI
    • Reviews
    • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Columns
    Random
    • Nuances

      Daniel Gehen
      October 18, 2004
      Meth Addict
    Recent
    • Monday Morning Pick ‘Em – February 20th 2019

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2019
    • Friday Favorites: Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel’s Nightwing

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Monday Morning Pick ‘Em – February 13th, 2019

      Daniel Gehen
      February 11, 2019
    • Comics Bulletin Podcast
    • Comics in Color
    • The Full Run
    • Jumping On
    • Leading Question
    • The Long-Form
    • Reboot Comic Book Club
    • Slouches Towards Comics
    • Top 10
    • What Looks Good
  • Interviews
    Random
    • An Artistic Wanderers Tale: The Journey of Tim Truman

      Daniel Gehen
      March 12, 2008
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Caitlin Kittredge talks the future of Witchblade

      Daniel Gehen
      February 12, 2019
    • Interview: Andy Nakatani and the Future of Weekly Shonen Jump

      Daniel Gehen
      December 19, 2018
    • INTERVIEW: Todd Matthy talks robots, princesses, and bridging the divide with storytelling

      Stephen Cook
      September 13, 2018
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • On S. Clay Wilson and Bourgeois Morality

      Daniel Gehen
      October 24, 2014
      Classic Comics Cavalcade, Columns
    Recent
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Girls Love comics!

      Daniel Gehen
      November 11, 2013
      Kickstarter Spotlight, News
    Recent
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Humble Bundle Announce a Limited-time Collection of Must Read Comics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 13, 2019
    • Kickstarter Spotlight: The Boston Metaphysical Society Embrace the Spirit of Rebellion

      Jason Sacks
      January 27, 2019
    • VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF URUSEI YATSURA SIGNATURE EDITIONS

      Daniel Gehen
      January 16, 2019
    • DC Joins Comixology Unlimited, Striking a Blow to DC Universe

      Daniel Gehen
      January 8, 2019
    • Image Announces “LITTLE BIRD” Miniseries

      Daniel Gehen
      December 21, 2018
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'Out of Nothing' is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Daniel Gehen
      July 23, 2018
      Books
    Recent
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
    • Review: ‘The Furnace’ is a Fascinating Graphic Novel of Ideas and Relationships

      Jason Sacks
      July 9, 2018
    • Review: ‘Apollo’ is Great with Facts, Less Great with Mythologizing

      Jason Sacks
      June 25, 2018
What's New
  • Micro Reviews: What the F@&$ is an Under York?
  • Review: Batman #65 and the Price of Borrowing From Better Tales
  • Monday Morning Pick 'Em - February 20th 2019
  • Review: Doom Patrol Episode 1
  • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics
  • Friday Favorites: Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel’s Nightwing
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Indie
Image

Review: POSTAL #25 – A Fitting Sendoff

Daniel Gehen
January 25, 2018
Image, Reviews, Top Cow

Image Comics | Top Cow

(W) Bryan Edward Hill, (A) Isaac Goodhart, (C) K. Michael Russell

Eden. For many, the name conjures up images of a paradise. Others are reminded that it is the birthplace of sin. In the world of Postal, those two visions collide in Eden, Wyoming. It is a haven for sinners, tucked away and hidden from the pubic. Against all odds, it has has survived attacks from the outside and within, despite its populace. Over the course of the previous 24 issues, writer Bryan Edward Hill, artist Isaac Goodhart, and co-creator Matt Hawkins have used Eden’s residents to not only craft entertaining mysteries, but also explore concepts such as religious extremism, hate crimes, and redemption. In this series’ finale, the creative team explore one more concept: atonement.

Postal has been blessed with a rich cast of characters, and with this being the finale, the core cast plays key roles in the series’ sendoff. Throughout, Hill has slowly peeled back the curtain of Eden’s past, revealing the varying costs of maintaining the town. Most of these costs have been paid by Mayor Laura Shiffron, who has lied, killed, manipulated, and extorted others in order to maintain Eden’s status quo. However, she has also proved herself to care for her loved ones, namely her son Mark. This makes this issues main reveal all the more shocking. I won’t spoil it here, but it is an act most people would find unfathomable.

As heinous as Laura’s actions are, the issue really isn’t about them. Rather, it is about the guilt she has carried with her, and the feeling that this is the one act for which she can never atone for. The art by Isaac Goodhart captures the angst and conflict which she feels. There is anger, and though she wishes to blame her ex-husband for her actions, in her heart she knows that she alone is responsible. Hill and Goodhart engage Laura in several conversations with different characters, each offering their own perspective on the situation. The issue ends on a cliffhanger, leaving her fate up to the interpretation of the reader.

While Laura’s arc is the major through line of the issue, Mark and his girlfriend, Maggie, go through their own trial with the revelation of Maggie’s pregnancy. That there is a disagreement between the two about whether or not to keep the baby is hardly a surprise. Nor is it surprising that the guy doesn’t want it and the girl does. What unexpected is the reason Mark wants the pregnancy aborted. It enables Hill to provide a retrospective look at not only Mark’s past, but that of Postal as a whole.

Isaac Goodhart, as he has done throughout the entire series, delivers solid artwork which captures the emotions of each sequence. Perhaps more impressive is the coloring by K. Michael Russell, who’s use of warm tones like oranges and golds give the book a perpetual “sunset” vibe. While a little on the nose, it serves to remind readers that this series has reached its twilight, and that each page is one step closer to its conclusion.

Postal #25 proves that a series finale does not need to tidily wrap up the story to satisfy. The book ends on an ambiguous note, with Mark and Laura’s respective futures on the line. However, readers that have been following this story and these characters over the course of the series should draw very similar conclusions about their fates. The series has repeatedly shown that these characters – and by extension, people in general – are willing to do or sacrifice anything for the sake of their loved ones. It is a surprisingly sweet sentiment for a book about ex-cons living in a community supported by corrupt government officials. That surprising dichotomy is what made Postal one of the most unique books on the market, and its absence will take substantial effort to fill.

Review: POSTAL #25 - A Fitting Sendoff
4.5Overall Score

Bryan Edward HillBryan HillImage ComicsIsaac GoodhartK. Michael RussellPostalTop Cow

Share On:
Tweet
Review: ICE CREAM MAN #1 is Absolutely Chilling
Review: DOOM PATROL #10 – Full of $#!%

About The Author

Daniel Gehen
Reviews Editor

Dan was introduced to the 1960s Batman show at a young age, which developed into a lifelong passion for comics. When he's not grinding out his day job, he can be found reading about Scarlet Speedsters, Web-Heads, or Sagas just about anywhere. If it's good he'll read it. If it's bad... there's a chance he still might read it.

Related Posts

  • Interview: Caitlin Kittredge talks the future of Witchblade

    Daniel Gehen
    February 12, 2019
  • Comics Bulletin’s Best of 2018 – The Creators

    Daniel Gehen
    January 4, 2019

Support Us!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Friends of the Site

  • Your Chicken Enemy
  • Psycho Drive-In
  • Women Write About Comics/
  • The Beat
  • Loser City
  • Comic Book Collect
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders