Advanced Review - Sentinel Issue #13: The Pack
Rob reviews Sentinel Issue #13: The Pack...
Roaring into its thirteenth issue, Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle's tribute to Starblazer continues to amaze with its depth of storytelling. This time out Holloway is joined by artist Mac Art for 54 pages of werewolf action.
Best described as Dog Soldiers meets Predator, The Pack introduces us to a squad of six battle-hardened roughnecks. What makes this squad unique is their ability to tap into their inner beast - and operate as a 'pack'. When a routine mission goes south, and one of their remains within his werewolf form - the hunters become the hunted. But is there a wider conspiracy at work?
Coming shortly after Sentinel Issue #12: Valhallasaur, you'd think that too much of a good thing would sour the experience. However, with The Pact Holloway continues his writing resurgence that made Valhallasaur a great read. Across this issue, we get a simple military story that not only evokes the same feelings as a prior militaristic tale; Dark Matter, but its end is also deliberately left open to allow Holloway to revisit these characters in the future.
Getting into the nitty-gritty and it's easy to see that The Pact has been inspired by many 1980s action movies - with the main being Predator. Taking place within modern times we follow a wet work team as they partake in a mission against an unnamed foe (who suspiciously looks like Mega-City One Judges). We never get to see the who and the why behind this fight, but ultimately this issue is to simply introduce the team to us.
Anyway, it isn't long before Holloway throws a spanner into the works, and the team ends up having to track down one of their own who's still within his werewolf form. From this point, there are plenty of revelations, and a bit of a twist in the tale as the two sides play cat and mouse across the jungle floor.
While the plot is pretty straightforward, it does allow for plenty of rip-roaring action. Once the dust settles, we're then given bite-sized chunks of exposition that convey just enough background to keep the reader interested. As with most Sentinal issues, there is that classic hook within the story's third act. And while I saw it coming a mile off, it's done in a way that could see Holloway take the leash off and run amok with the plot if he returns to this reality.
Much like Dark Matter, The Pact features quite a varied cast of characters. While there is a primary character, each member of the squad gets some page time with Holloway sowing the seeds to their personalities, and other quirks. That's something that I've always admired about Sentinel. Even though character and plot development can be hampered by the page count, Holloway always manages to juggle the two to an acceptable level without compromising either.
In keeping with its Starblazer roots, each issue of Sentinel features a different artist. While there have been some returnees across the thirteen issues, The Pact sees the Sentinel debut of Mac Art. To anyone who's a member of the prominent 2000 AD Facebook groups, Mac is no stranger. From his stunning "inktober" submissions to his equally amazing wip illustrations, Mac's work is held in high regard - and it's no different here. This passion also translates to Pact. Each page is a gorgeous display of feral beauty that perfectly accompanies Holloway's script. While the linework is clean, the nature of the script gives everything a raw undertone, which does make Mac's illustrations leap off the page. With Mac's art also available as a Kickstarter pledge - I can see them already being in high demand!
All in all, Sentinel Issue #13: The Pack is another surefire hit for the publication. It's a fun rollercoaster thrill that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. With plenty of scope to further expand the world of The Pack, I'm hoping Alan Holloway and Mac Art return to these characters again very soon!
Rating: 8.5/10
Enjoyed this review and want to experience Sentinel Issue #13: The Pack for yourself? Click here to check out the issues Kickstarter page and make sure to pledge while you're there!
Special thanks go out to Alan Holloway who's trusted me with this very advanced look.
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