By Benjamin Morin — Coffin Bound remains a wonderful anomaly in the comics landscape. It sets itself apart with a unique artstyle and narrative tone that mixes grindhouse action with thoughtful philosophy. This kind of book hits a weird intersection of my interests as it takes a genre known for its mindless depravity and injects it with probing ontological concepts. Coffin Bound will just as soon thrill you as it will make you question your own existence.

As the second entry in the current arc, this issue performs a lot of leg work setting up what is to come. Once again we follow Taqa in her quest for the vulture. Coming off of the last issue she’s taken this task to the extreme by marking herself for death and now she must confront the dangers lurking at every turn. Taqa’s narrative is taut with tension; and the constant threat that anyone could be a panel away from turning on her helped draw me into her struggle. Taqa’s narrative is also bookended by the introduction of the “Empathic” cult who seem poised to become major players later on.

The structure and pacing of the issue were on point. The story kept me on my feet and anxious to find out what happened next. Here, Watters does a great job at further expanding his world. From the “Empathic” cult to the development of the Church, the world of Coffin Bound becomes more and more interesting with each issue. Watter’s dialogue also remains a unique feature. He continues to write each character with their own distinctive cadence that sets the dialogue apart from any other series. It may come off as stilted or off-putting to some, but I enjoy the stylistic choice.

The art in the issue also remains standout. Dani’s bold linework strikes you from panel one and accentuates the gritty vibe of the whole issue. The majority of the issue takes place during a raging hail storm, which is uniquely illustrated. Dani’s depiction of the hail slicing through both the backgrounds and foregrounds conveys a piercing effect. Simpson’s coloring works wonderfully in tandem with Dani’s linework and adds depth to each panel. Alongside this artistic duo is Bidikar’s exceptional lettering. I have never been one to actively notice how a comic’s lettering affects the work, but Bidikar’s style has stuck out to me from issue one. This issue is no different as he continues to flex his creativity.

Altogether, I am very excited to see where this arc takes the series. The philosophical thrust has shifted from an ontological argument for one’s personal existence to that of the divine’s existence, and I am excited to see how it plays out. This issue delves deeper into these ideas and continues the series’ trend of consistently presenting intriguing concepts.

Overall: Coffin Bound #6 sinks its teeth into the seedy underbelly of its society, while probing deeper into the arc’s thematic thrust. 8.5/10

REVIEW: Coffin Bound #6

Coffin Bound #6
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Dani
Colorist: Brad Simpson
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: #3.99
LOVE HEARTS! FIST FIGHTS! ROTTEN FRUIT! Having put a price on her own head, Taqa has proven somewhat death-wish-ish. Now the city’s assassins are coming for her—killers of every shape and size with every philosophical delusion under the sun.
Release Date: September 2, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Coffin Bound #6

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Benjamin Morin currently studies Journalism/Mass Media at Johnson University. He is a comic book enthusiast and aspiring filmmaker.