BLOOD & THUNDER #15 (skybound entertainment/image comics)

The IPPF has followed Blood into the Underside to recapture her after her escape. Not only do the agents have to navigate a world they are not familiar with, but they also must overcome the misconceptions of what the Underside is. Fortunately for them, Blood is in the same boat they are, although they don’t know that.

Blood & Thunder #15 - Written By Benito Cereno – Art By E.J. Su - Colors By Msassyk – Letters By Rus Wooton - Created By Robert Kirkman, Benito Cereno, and E.J. Su - Edited By Diegs Lopez - Published By Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics

Credit: Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Corporal Middleditch prepares his men to go to the Underside to hunt down the fugitive Blood. Not only are the agents nervous about going after the very dangerous Blood, but also the uncertainty that the Underside brings. Thankfully for the agents Blood is also confused and unfamiliar with the Underside. Some of the rumors and myths that have been spoken about the area are very true, well others are outlandish and fun. However, all this fun goes out the window when the IPPF agents find Blood and try and bring her to justice.

WRITING:

This issue continues the fugitive hunt for Blood while pushing the story deeper into Metro-1 and the strange, unpredictable territory of the Underside. Benito Cereno does a strong job telling two sides of the same conflict at once without making the issue feel overstuffed or confusing. On one side, we follow the IPPF agents as they enter a place they clearly do not understand, convinced they are simply tracking down a dangerous fugitive and bringing her to justice. Their fear and uncertainty say a lot about how much misinformation surrounds the Underside, but it also reflects how little they understand about the larger mission they have been sent on. They believe they are acting as the good guys, yet the story continues to hint that the people giving the orders may have motives that are far more complicated and questionable.

On the other side of the story, Blood is dealing with her own uncertainty. Even though she knows her actions are justified, she has not completely separated herself from the law enforcement mindset she was raised with. That internal conflict makes her more interesting than a simple runaway or rebel because she is not just fighting the people chasing her; she is also fighting the instincts, training, and beliefs that shaped her life. Cereno really shines when he allows these deeper character conflicts to sit underneath the action. The issue has plenty of movement and tension, but the strongest material comes from watching characters question what they have been told and what they believe about justice, authority, and survival.

The added threat of another criminal trying to get to Blood gives the chase more urgency and keeps the issue from being only about the IPPF closing in on her. It creates the feeling that Blood is caught between multiple dangers, each one with different motivations. The introduction of the Pinkertrons also adds more personality and intrigue to the world, making the Underside feel even stranger and more layered. Cereno balances the drama, humor, and world-building well, using the unfamiliar setting to challenge both Blood and the agents chasing her. That balance helps make the issue feel like more than a standard pursuit story; it becomes a stronger look at how the characters react when the rules they understand no longer apply.

ARTWORK:

Blood & Thunder continues to stand out visually because E.J. Su gives the issue a strong sense of personality, movement, and place. His artwork makes the Underside feel like a strange environment rather than just a generic dangerous location for the characters to run through. The backgrounds have enough detail to sell the oddness of Metro-1 and the Underside, but they never become so busy that they distract from the characters or the action. That balance is important because the issue is built around pursuit, confusion, and danger, and Su’s layouts keep each scene readable even when the story is moving quickly.

Su’s character work is also a major strength. Blood carries herself with the confidence of someone who knows how to survive, but there is still enough expression in her face and body language to show that she is not fully in control of the situation. The IPPF agents have their own sense of nervous energy, and that helps sell how uncomfortable they are once they enter unfamiliar territory. The action scenes are clean and easy to follow, with strong staging that makes the danger feel immediate without losing the reader in the movement. Su’s linework gives the issue a sharp, animated quality that fits both the humor and the intensity of the story.

Msassyk’s colors add another layer of energy to the visuals. The color choices help separate the Underside from the more familiar parts of the world, making it feel unpredictable, strange, and slightly dangerous. Bright tones bring out the comic’s sense of fun, while darker shades help support the tension when the chase becomes more serious. The coloring also gives the action a strong sense of impact, making the big moments pop without overwhelming the artwork. Together, Su and Msassyk give the issue a visual identity that feels energetic, imaginative, and perfectly matched to the story’s mix of sci-fi action, comedy, and character drama.

Check out my review of blood & thunder #14

Final Thoughts:

Blood & Thunder #15 takes the fugitive chase to the next level and adds a great deal of drama to the story. Don’t get me wrong, the humor and fun that this series always mixes in are still there in this issue. But where this issue stands out is the drama that it adds to the overall story in the series. Even though this issue has significantly less action than the last few issues it still delivers exactly what it needs to as we move forward in this story. Blood & Thunder is always a solid title and if you haven’t been along for this ride, you should reconsider picking up this title when you’re at the shop this week.

FINAL GRADE: 8.6/10

Let me know your thoughts on Blood & Thunder #15 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!