Writer: Van Jensen
Art: Pete Woods
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: September 28

The 4th issue of Van Jensen’s epic tome, Cryptocracy, hit shelves today, and the danger for the families continues to escalate. This issue is especially gratifying as we get a glimpse into the characters’ pasts, explaining motivations in the present.

**Spoilers Ahead**

In a land of monsters
Grahame and Jason travel to The Preserve in China to gather clues as to Hum’s plans from the creatures that reside there. They need intel on the Mothmen, the new allies of Hum. This also provides for a family reunion for Jason, and an excellent flashback to how Jason came to be a member of the family and Grahame’s friend. They go to ask the Dragon, but are betrayed as he begins to recite the sixth prophecy. Grahame and Jason escape, but at the sacrifice of Jason’s mother.

Knowing too much is gonna get you killed…
Bela has hacked into the family business documents and has escaped assassination. Jensen now reveals that while it had appeared that her father had simply abandoned Bela and her mother, a much more sinister fate befell the man. He was a radio talking head that was trying to expose the deep rooted corruption in government and was getting to the heart of the matter – the families. Bela now finds herself aligned with radical militants whose main goal is to destroy the families, led of course by Hum.

Daddy issues
Temple is ready to take her fathers place as Elder, but this Bela situation is becoming a real roadblock to her impeding leadership. She blames Grahame for not getting rid of her a long time ago. She goes into conference with her ailing dad, who informs her that he is planning on announcing Grahame, not her, as the next Elder of the family. They are interrupted by Hum, who has found a way to infiltrate the family base. The tables are turned and Hum is detained, but shocking developments leave the fate of everyone in question.

Jensen and Woods continue their excellent narrative, mixing human, animal, and lore into a modern tale of deceit and intrigue. The story is fast paced (in past issues almost too quick), but the backstory in #4 really elevated a great story to excellent status. Woods’s art pushes the story along, but he really got to show off his chops with the attention to detail given to the mythical creatures of The Preserve. This, for me, was the best issue of the series so far.

5 Death Worms out of 5