Review: The Unwritten #47

Ever since his confrontation with The Cabal and the wounding of Leviathan, Tom Taylor has taken a back seat in his own story. This is of course understandable, as his girlfriend ceased to exist in our world, and he is slowly dying of the same wound Leviathan is suffering from. And while it’s been nice to see more of a spotlight on Richie, and getting to meet Didge and Danny, it’s great to return to the protagonist’s adventures in Hades.

This issue, Tommy gets to know the despicable Pauly Bruckner – who has since become the Lord of Hades. Apparently Pauly, with the help of poor Milton the Golden Age super hero – or at least his magical items – not only survived The Nothing the wave of unreality that happened when Leviathan was stabbed, but beheaded Hades himself and stole his throne. He has since spent his days watching James Bond movies and eating cheeseburgers.

Meanwhile, young Cosi and Leon explore the castle, and keep tabs on Pauly. Finally, Tom is sent to a cell for punishment, only to find figures from his past gathered there – including one he thought long gone.

Mike Carey and Peter Gross’ The Unwritten has been consistently amazing. From the exploration of various fictional worlds, to the slowly-unfolding mystery, to the philosophizing about the nature of Story and its impact on the world, this book can seemingly do no wrong. And although the series took a new direction after the Wound – and its pace slowed quite a bit – it seems to be returning to its former self. With an expanded cast, newfound motivations, unsettling new mysteries, and significantly faster pacing, the series is stronger than ever