Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“A Bridge to Nowhere”

The final issue of Clean Room Vol 1 came to an end and, thankfully, it wrapped up the story in a nice, tight roll.

I was very worried that the series would end without sufficient closure, perhaps canceled by the cruel fates, leaving the threads a dangling. However, my fears were unjustified as this brought everything to an extremely satisfying conclusion.

The finale found the final showdown between Astrid and Derica, which turned out to be more one sided than I expected. I should have guessed that Astrid was in complete control of the situation. Of course she was.

We found out even more proof that Capone is one bad ass m-fer. I am so pleased that she made it through the conclusion.

The story of Chloe made perfect sense and what Astrid had Chloe do at the end also worked for this story. I loved having Spark make his return and play a huge role in the finale. I also loved having the brothers Havelin on site and brandishing a big piece of wood. Avil returned too and the idea of some threesomes between him, Chloe and Killian is mind-blowing.

I’ve been reading this series for the past 18 days and I am very pleased with the ending. It was satisfying and placed the characters that I have grown to love in great places and it works as an ending.

Thanks to Gail Simone for her creativity and storytelling skills. This was a fabulous series that I truly enjoyed.

The Daily Read will pause now for awhile until the next series presents itself. This was a fun time with comics and there is little better than that.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover arty by Jenny Frison

“Waiting for the Stars to Fall”

The penultimate issue of this first series in the Daily Read category sees Astrid re-establish control over her #1 Fan, Artus. He spent the first half of the book making himself seem superior to the “critter” but he took things a step too far and Astrid decided that enough was enough and she brought this little creep down big time while coming to rescue Chloe and Killian.

However, the big throwdown is still coming as Derica is on her way to have a massive confrontation with Astrid. This is just after Astrid is informed by Artus that the way to destroy the Entities was to exorcise the child.

That sounds like a big war in the finale.

I have to say that I am worried that the series did not come to a clean conclusion. Was it canceled and so the storyline was left dangling? That would not be what I want.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Assisted Living”

Woah!

I know I mentioned that last issue was a filler issue, a look at someone outside of the main arcs of the book.

Man, did that change.

Issue #16 just went to town. Brutal. Violent. Vicious.

While Chloe and Killian are trapped in the memories inside the Clean Room, Artus Greenhand is calling for Astrid.

Then an assault was underway on the building. The creatures were after Capone, who just showed how much of a bad ass she is. They were after Anika, and Capone made it there in time to put an axe through the creature’s head. The Surgeon came to kill Duncan, but he got surprised by the Haverlin boys and some baseball bats.

Astrid’s crew was stepping things up, big time. Even with that, there was a feeling of hopelessness going on in the book.

Some of it may have come from the unsettling conversation between Astrid and the entity in control of the baby Derica. This was disturbing as it gets, with the baby reaching out and asking Aunt Astrid to hold it. Creepy.

This issue was packed to the gills with action and gore after a slower filler issue #15. This was a powerful issue with so many shout out loud moments. It was such a big time book and there are only two more issues to go.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Illustrated by Sanya Anwar

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Interlude: All the Pretty Edges”

This series took a strange detour.

In what felt like a filler issue, we met Mary, a young woman whose husband Ian, was showing up to her after his death in a bungie jumping accident.

Mary wound up in the organization run by Astrid Mueller, but it really did not have anything to do with the story that we have spent the last 14 issues following.

It did take a side of the organization and looked at it in a different manner, with a different POV than what we have been used to. It was an interesting tale of Mary, but I am not sure the purpose of the issue.

We had a different artist, Sanya Anwar, doing the art, but it looked like this was the only issue that she had done in this first volume.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“One Step Over the Abyss”

Astrid’s #1 fan has arrived at the Clean Room with supposedly information on the baby Derica, who spent the first several pages of this issue being horrendous. The imagery of the bridge with the human faces was nightmare fuel if I have even seen any.

The new duo of Astrid and Chloe split apart as Chloe went to see her brother Peter. Meanwhile, Chloe and Killian tried to voir dire the #1 fan.

Artus Greenhand is the name of the #1 fan and he is a piece of work. With hair just like Astird, we discover immediately that this guy is dangerous. He is a serial killer and looks on women as “critters.”

He also seemingly can control the Clean Room, which is not a good thing, as he left Chloe and Killian in a memory facing himself.

I have to say that the relationship between Astrid and Chloe seemed to take a sudden switch here and I am not sure that I think it is earned. Chloe, in particular, had real anger toward Chloe and it does not feel as if that was as resolved as it is being shown to be. However, I do think the relationship between Chloe and Killian worked extremely well and feels as if it makes more sense.

Of course, the whole “intercourse” bit was really funny.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Walter Geovani

Cover Art by Jenny Frison

“Time and Tide”

Interestingly enough, we got a new artist for the book. Walter Geovani is the new artist replacing Jon Davis-Hunt. I had not seen an announcement in issue #12 that there was going to be a change. I did not look closely though so it could have been there.

We see a side to Astrid this issue that we had not seen before. She was ready to punish Killian and Duncan in the Clean Room because of their betrayals last issue. However, at the last minute, she reconsidered and rushed back to them. I was surprised by Astrid’s change of heart, but I did like it very much.

Then, Astrid went to Chloe and asked her to join her as one of her rooks. Chloe demanded the truth from Astrid, and… she gave it to her! I couldn’t believe that either.

Then, Astrid brough Chloe to the Clean Room where her niece, the daughter of her brother who had shot her, was at, and the little girl showed off her own evil possessed power, killing a guard. The final shot of the toddler was creepy as heck as she says to Chloe that Philip says hello.

Philip was, of course, Chloe’s fiancé who had shot himself in the head after reading Astrid’s book.

I feel that Astrid and Chloe are forming a bond, at least to work together. I am still not sure if I should trust Astrid, but I have to say I am getting there.

Five more issues to go. This has been awesome.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Red Inventory”

Things are flying along.

There is a meeting of the Honest World Foundation Board, called by Wenuka, to try an take control away from Astrid.

Meanwhile, Astrid is still in the mountains with Capone, trying to gage her loyalty. Astrid believed she could be a traitor, sent to the mountain to try and finish her off.

It was shown clearly that Capone was loyal as she prevented a sniper from killing Astrid, though the sniper that was sent seemed to lack any real skills in the subject.

Chloe was able to get herself into the Clean Room with Killian to try to save Spark. While inside the Clean Room, the real traitor was revealed… Duncan.

The battle between Duncan and Killian was dope. However, in the end, it took Spark controlling the Clean Room to stop Duncan.

The only way Spark could do that was to reclaim the darkness. The final shot of Spark with an evil grin plastered across it was both scary and sad at the same time.

Things are moving quickly with this book. Only 7 more issues to go.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Hell Above Us and Heaven Below”

Confused again.

So bringing Spark into the Clean Room by Chloe was a strategy to try and save Astrid’s life from the gunshot wound that she received from her brother. It was a highly controversial idea that Killian was not a fan of, but Chloe seemed to have the drop on everyone.

As Astrid is coding, Spark possessed her to try and save her. He is able to remove the bullet and save her. As Astrid was coming around, she ordered Spark to be destroyed with 60,000 volts.

Whoa. I did not see that coming as the electricity shot through Spark and left it ashes on the Clean Room floor. Right in front of Chloe, who had promised Spark, who did not want to save Astrid, that she would protect him. Even Killian was surprised by the move… how cold, seconds after your life is saved, you kill what had saved you.

Astrid’s brother, who was the person who shot her, claimed that Astrid had killed their father, which was why he had shot her. So it looks like the questions I had about Astrid’s motivations are gone now and that she is nothing more than a cold-hearted monster.

Does this mean that I have to look at the people in this book and re-evaluate their motives? How about the Surgeon? Do I owe him another look?

Okay, so Astrid is currently planted herself on team bad guy. Is that where she is going to end up? Or is there something more that we don’t know?

Excellent series so far… love it.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“A Critical Event”

So this book took a WILD turn that I was not expecting…

Astrid Mueller is shot, the bullet going into her heart. It sure looks as if she is dying and she compels Killian to get Chloe because she needs someone to take over her role. Astrid says it can’t be Killian because Killian is a follower and the leader can not be a follower.

She also dropped a bomb…

Hell is real and the demons are trying to break through.

There are so many fascinating things going down here, including it apparently Astrid’s own brother Peter who shot her.

When Killian called, Chloe brought her own little squad with her, including Detective Avil Demaros and the Haverlin Brothers. Chloe insisted that she be allowed to bring a witness into the Clean Room with Astrid and Killing, which would be Rene.

Although, with a great ending surprise, it was not just Rene Haverlin. It was also Spark, who had possessed Rene and showed itself at the end of the book. It’s as if Chloe was really thinking ahead of the game.

What is next in this series. I can’t even think what could possibly be coming.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“High Way to Hell”

While I still am not sure of of the dep motives going on here, the scene with Astrid and the Surgeon made things a little clearer about what I think about Astrid.

However, Chloe has not been convinced. She met up with Detective Avil Demakos, who was looking to ask her some questions about Michael Parks, who had been killed by being twisted into a pretzel-like shape. In just a few pages, I became a fan of these two and I want a good old fashioned love story in the middle of this horror book.

We see part of a relationship between Astrid and Anika, who does not look good. Astrid does seem to have feelings for Anika (and Chloe too) even if it is not obvious to anyone that she does. Astrid feels cold, and she barely responds to some of the horrors that are around her. Even a slight tear was barely recognizable in this issue.

It was a good issue and I loved how they were setting things up with this story moving forward.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Jon David-Hunt

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“The Surgeon Walks”

Another interesting new character makes his way to Chloe’s home: The Surgeon.

He does not look like a major problem… initially. He was an old doctor who came is speaking to Chloe, trying to convince her to come with him to the hospital.

Chloe played along… and then jammed to knives through The Surgeon’s head.

That, of course, did not kill him.

So what stops the Surgeon from killing Chloe? A phone call and a threat from Ingrid Mueller.

Ingrid has plans for Chloe. That is clear. And Chloe is not done with Ingrid either. We learned about what specifically happened to have Phillip blow his own head off.

This has been such a sensational series so far. I love these characters and I am just not sure who is the hero, who is the villain and what is going on. Gail Simone has gotten my attention once again.

Spoilers

Written by Gail SImone

Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

Cover Art by Jenny Frison

“All the Wrong Places”

Our two stories each reach a fever pitch in issue #5 of Clean Room, the Vertigo series from 2016-2017.

Astrid Mueller was inside the Clean Room with her associate Terry. Terry had shot the monster in the head, thinking he save the day.

He had, in fact, doomed himself. The creature possessed Terry and was preparing to assassinate Astrid. Then, Astrid showed how bad ass she is.

I assume everyone who works for Astrid Mueller has one of these Lifeboxes with certain memories that allow her to rip them down in a moments notice. Terry’s memory was a sad one from his youth with his brother.

Meanwhile, a demon (or whatever) possessed Rene Haverlin to speak with Chloe. The demon was called Spark and spoke in a broken English. This creature was very creepy (as was Terry in the Clean Room).

While these events were going on, Capone went and got in a hot tub naked. She was buying off an actress to lie about her pregnancy to take the heat off the questions in the air about why Rand Tanner, actor and customer of Astrid Mueller, had died of an overdose.

Once again, I do not know where some of these characters stand and I am loving it. Very little here feels black and white. There were some full page panel art throughout the book that were extremely effective in creating a tone of creepiness and a sinister feel.

Spoilers

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

Cover art by Jenny Frison

“Turn that Front Upside Down.”

This issue starts off with a flashback to Astrid Mueller trying to recruit a man named Doctor Hagen. It was fifteen years ago in Norway and what Astrid was using for a recruitment tool was a little unlikely. This series continues intriguing flashbacks as cold opens that give us little details about some of out characters.

The issue has a double confrontation that plays out in seemingly the same time frame. We have Astrid inside the Clean Room with the man with his eyes pecked out- the man who had run her over in issue one. It was pretty clear that this was not that actual person… either he had been controlled or taken over. Meanwhile, Chloe was facing off with the creature that had taken over her home and had attacked her neighbors.

By the way, The Haverlin Brothers survived last issue, which made me very pleased. These three appear to have Chloe’s back, even though she tried to persuade them to not get involved. I have become a fan of these boys at this point, but I am afraid more is coming with them.

The two confrontations take different turns. Terry does something to the monster in the Clean Room, apparently killing it, which sent Astrid into a frenzy, screaming that they are all going to die. Then, Chloe is being slowly taunted by the creature in her house, which tells her that it was there to help her kill herself.

Chloe still sees Astrid as her enemy, but I think there is more to this series than that. I do not think it is as simple as protagonist vs. antagonist. Each issue brings a new level to this horror series. Excited for the next issue tomorrow.