Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the complementary comic book blog to the ODPH podcast! For this edition, we’re checking out the final story arc of one of the most intense reads at the LCS. Basilisk #10 by Cullen Bunn, Jonas Scharf, Alex Guimaraes & Ed Dukeshire for Boom Studios has been a wild read with the saga of a lone survivor against the fearsome supernatural five. The comics has been picking up steam with .some of the most brutal action sequences in comics. The major players are setting up for the ultimate encounter. Let’s see how the latest chapter is taking readers towards the final stand of the Chimera, shall we?

Basilisk #10 - On Sale August 3rd
Creative: Cullen Bunn, Jonas Scharf, Alex Guimaraes & Ed Dukeshire
Credit: Boom Studios

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

This issue kicks off with an eerie origin story for Vanessa, the lead of the Chimera. It’s a very in your face opening that results into present time with Vanessa waking up in a colony of disciples. The group appears to be preparing on unleashing a healthy Vanessa onto the world after her last battle with Hannah.

Meanwhile, Hannah is still in a hospital from her last battle. She begins to think back to her family, who were original victims to the Chimera. Now, Hannah is alone after cutting ties with Regan, the lone defector of the Chimera. Speaking of Regan, she is approached by Barret and his Chimera followers. After an order was subtly given, Barret’s followers invade the hospital and start killing everyone in sight looking for Hannah. The scene’s pull no punches as Hannah fights to survive.

Just when readers think they’re going to have this story figured out, The major players left are now flipped in direction in what will be one of the craziest endings in recent memory. The long time readers will not be ready for what the final page means. The game has now changed. The direction of the book is now set. All bets are off for what’s coming.

Bunn is really setting the table for the final showdown here. Hannah and Vanessa’s collision course has been very engaging to readers to see how it will all unfold. Vanessa has had a “fall from Grace” ordeal in relearning about her past, On the other side of the coin, Hannah has come to terms that ending the Chimera once and for all might cost her everything, but the ends justify the means. The role players are adding to the intensity of the moments while not stealing anything away from the inevitable end. The mood is dire, and the future is bleak. Could this story end any other way. Great storytelling.

Scharf continues to deliver some of the most brutal scenes with the violence in this issue. The raid of the hospital is intense and graphic. Readers see how fanatic the Chimera followers have turned. Hannah’s fight to survive shows how far of a character growth she’s gone thru. Readers also get a grim look at Vanessa’s beginnings with the flashback sequence to open the book. The shift from grey/blue to light/brown was a great touch to illustrate the points. Very well done.

Overall, Basilisk #10 delivers on the calm and the violence. It doesn’t hold back from the brutality of its story but does offer some quiet moments before all hell breaks loose. Bunn and Scharf bring the story to a fever pitch before lighting the ending match. You simply can’t miss this comic at the LCS.

Hit me up on Twitter and let me know what you thought of Basilisk #10. Thanks for reading.

BASILISK #10 (BOOM STUDIOS)

Ken M