Bad Thoughts has put Jack Coates through hell. Nearly all of the members of his security firm have been killed in action, except for one. His wife was murdered in cold blood, and by the one person he called a friend. Add his psychic ability to pick up on mankind’s more malevolent thoughts, and you’ve got a recipe for trauma that would give Wolverine or Batman a run for their money. Bad Thoughts #4 finally sees Jack going on the offensive, as he starts to unravel why his old friend Bill turned on him.
Ande Parks has a great handle on the action genre, from the pacing to the big reveals. The former comes in handy as it slowly eases readers into the set pieces, and leads to some pretty funny moments. Case in point: tipping a car over a hill won’t cause it to automatically explode. As for the big reveals, it’s finally revealed what makes Bill the way he is…and it paints him in a horrifying new light, especially as those reveals concern his sister. Considering that this is a series where the protagonist is literally able to sense people’s malevolent thoughts, it makes sense that his final foe would be someone who is the worst of humanity.
There’s also the personal dynamic between Jack and Bill that’s driving Bad Thoughts, and Parks pours plenty of simmering emotion into said dynamic. It’s one thing for someone to hurt you; it’s another when that person is your so-called friend. That leads to the resequite action sequences, alongside a major twist that sets the stage for one hell of a finale. I’m mixed on said twist because it appears to walk back one of the book’s major decisions, but it also gives Jack even more skin in the game.
Dave Wachter is also a key part of why Bad Thoughts #4 hits as hard as it does. Thanks to his clean, dynamic artwork, readers will see the pain crossing Jack’s face whenever his abilities activate, and the determination in his eyes as he resolves to finish his fight. Wachter’s gift for drawing action is also on full display. You’ll see bullets going through heads (and turning said heads into mountains of bloody pulp), gunshots carving through the air, and a car tumbling head over heels and becoming a mangled mass of metal.
Wachter’s art shines thanks to simple yet strong color art from Brad Simpson, who uses a number of hues throughout Bad Thoughts #4. Purples and blues signify a fading night, while pure white is a symbol for the daylight. The most prominent color, once again, is red, particularly when Jack uses his abilities. It goes hand in hand with how Wachter draws said abilities being triggered, which feels like knives jabbing outward, and is a perfect representation of the dark thoughts Jack hears throughout his life.
Bad Thoughts #4 slowly sets the stage for an action-packed and emotional finale, thanks to its creative team’s approach. I cannot wait for said finale, and hope that this isn’t the last of the world of Bad Thoughts.
‘Bad Thoughts’ #4 draws the line between hero and villain
Bad Thoughts #4
Bad Thoughts #4 slowly sets the stage for an action-packed and emotional finale, thanks to its creative team’s approach. I cannot wait for said finale, and hope that this isn’t the last of the world of Bad Thoughts.
Parks knows how to emotionally hit his readers in the gut, while also keeping them hooked.
Wachter’s gift for action is on full display, leading to some intense pages.
Simple yet striking colors from Simpson draw the eye.
A late game twist threatens to walk back one of the series’ major decisions.
