Identity Stunt is back with its biggest issue for its grand finale and it does not disappoint in terms of action, emotion, thrills, spills and even shocking moments. There’s a lot to break down here but I’ll try my best to avoid spoilers because Sam Nasser’s ultimate showdown is something I highly recommend you pick up and read for yourself. Identity Stunt goes all out in its epic climax and it results in the most thrilling and gripping issue of this entire series to date.
Plot
Identity Stunt has always been able to capture that classic 80’s action flick style and yet adapt it into a more gritty and serious style and that is most evident in the series’s finale. Written and created by Joe R. Khachadourian with artwork from J. Briscoe Allison, & the colorist is Juancho Velez the stakes are the highest they’ve ever been and that makes both Beatdown and Sam Nasser very dangerous men. With so much on the line neither is willing to let those they love be hurt or those they hate get away and that dynamic is what really gripped me throughout. Both are fighting the same fight but for almost polar opposite reasons and that results in some tense moments and some of the best action in this entire comic. Despite the issue being built as a final showdown, much like the third act of a film, this issue still manages to sprinkle throughout clever hints and story beats which not only fill in the blanks of Sam’s history but also do a wonderful job of setting up a future to the series. Not wanting to spoil those story beats the rest of the issue plays out like an extended final battle and honestly I didn’t mind that at all considering how the previous issue did a great job of getting us ready for it. On top of the story beats, there were plenty of pretty huge revelations involving both new and old characters and involving certain characters entering or leaving the series. I can’t really say much more without spoiling but this comic was chocked full of shocking moments that you really should read for yourself. Overall Identity Stunt #4 is an all out action packed explosive finale to a really great series that has always had killer fights and heartfelt moments at its core and the same can be said for its final issue.
Characters
Sam Nasser and Beatdown developed a new kind of relationship throughout this issue. They felt more like the different sides of the same coin rather than two totally different people who were just thrown together. Their banter back and forth as they fought was not only very entertaining but noticeably different with Beatdown being more rash, harsh, and admittedly comedic and Sam’s being more calm and collected. Their fighting styles were also slightly different with Beatdown being just that little bit more ruthless and vicious but don’t mistake that for Sam being soft because his dark side was certainly put on show here like it never has been before. Both characters had satisfying endings to their respective character arcs and both definitely had their coolest moments out of the entire series in this issue. As for the antagonist we finally got to see Dominus in all his demon worshiping glory and it was pretty spectacular. So far we’ve only seen the various henchmen that Dominus has sent after Sam but now we finally get to see him go toe to toe with the man behind the scenes. On top of looking insanely cool, I loved the animalistic aspects of his character both in his look and fighting style. He reminded me of some like Sabertooth and it was really cool to see someone powerful enough to stand up against both Beatdown and Sam at the same time. He genuinely felt like a real threat throughout and he was by far the best villain of the series.
As for some of the supporting characters, Mason was really entertaining this issue and went through an incredible transformation which I can’t really detail without spoiling but I will say it was one of the most shocking moments of the comic. Alyssa, Sams daughter was used more of a story element rather than a fully developed character with a concluding story arc but it wasn’t distracting to me and she was a well-written exploit to toy with Sam’s more emotional side.
Artwork
The artwork in issue #4 is the most gruesome, the most gritty and best I’ve seen all series. This entire issue is virtually a final battle and so there’s plenty of moments for fantastic action and gore but it isn’t overdone or overused, instead, it is done in a mature and sophisticated style which only escalates the stakes of the plot rather than serve as a distraction. Full credit to the various artists who have worked on Identity Stunt who have not only produced incredibly entertaining comic strips throughout but went out on an almighty bang.
Adapted to the Big Screen
I spoke earlier how this issue felt very much like the 3rd act of a film and thats due to the cinematic style Identity Stunt is written in as well as the over the top action and artwork. Plus the epilogue of the issue had some after-credit-scene vibes to it which only added to that cinematic style.
Overall Identity Stunt #4 is a fantastic finale to a series that has had me gripped since issue #1, been chocked full of great action and heartwarming moments, and has left me both satisfied and wanting more in the best way possible. If you want to check out my thoughts on the previous 3 issues catch up with all the reviews here on GVN and follow us over on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest reviews and updates.
