The final fight with Wyrm is here! Can Roger and Cirrus switch bodies and save the world? Find out in The Schlub #6 by Image Comics!
THE SCHLUB #6
Writer: Ryan Stegman and Kenny Porter
Artist: Tyrell Cannon
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: John Hill
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 24th, 2024
Previously in Schlub: Dentist Roger Dalton has a bleak outlook on life while trying to manage his divorce and failing career. Cirrus is an alien superhero and the world’s protector. When an artifact causes them to switch bodies, Roger finds he now has the power to do what he wants. However, Cirrus’s father once stole Cirrus’s body from Wyrm, and now Wyrm is here to regain that body. He absorbed the powers of Earth’s supervillains and waged war. Now is the final stand.
The Schlub #6 begins with Cirrus (in Roger’s body) grabbing the Soul Cradle, the artifact that moves souls from one body to another, and Rogers flies in to save him. As they retreat and regroup, the world’s heroes rally around Sara’s hospital bed, trying to figure out the next move. With Sara’s wisdom, they team up with Wyrm’s henchmen to try and fight back against the horde of monsters. Meanwhile, Cirrus tries to convince Rogers to do the ritual. The problem is that Cirrus is willing to let people die so he can have his body back, and Rogers tries to ponder Cirrus’ selfishness as he continues to fight off Wyrm’s creatures. Through a montage, Roger exhausts Wyrm’s power long enough to start the ritual. As the souls return to their correct bodies, Rogers sees the world’s heroes still overwhelmed by Wyrm’s forces. He tells Cirrus that he could save these people if they stop the ritual, which Cirrus adamantly fights against. Despite this, Roger breaks off the ritual and punches Wyrm into space, keeping more people.
Later, Cirrus in Roger’s body tries his hand at dentistry and helps build a new business while Roger takes on the role of Earth’s protector. Despite that, Cirrus is still upset, and the threat of Cirrus’ father is still in the distance.
First, I want to mention that this comic has thirty pages of content without increasing the price. The amount of content within these pages is well worth the price of admission, and the art is incredibly detailed. However, sometimes I am overwhelmed by everything on the page. Some of these panel backgrounds showcase a lot of fighting and destruction in the city, and I find myself staring at those images rather than focusing on the narrative plot.
As I was reading this, I pondered the concept of selfishness versus selflessness. Cirrus is called a selfish being for wanting his body back at the expense of people. This idea was repeated several times throughout the comic. Roger wants to be selfless in this issue. But is it easier to be selfless when in a better position? For example, it is easier to donate to charity when you have extra money in your pocket that you don’t need. This implication that the comic explores is fascinating, and I don’t feel that the creative team came to a conclusion for these characters. There is a cliffhanger that implies there will be another arc at the end of the book, and I would like to see the characterization of our two protagonists concerning selfishness explored more.
I am very impressed with Schlub #6. I think the concept is fascinating, and many unique themes are explored. The art is good, though sometimes overwhelming, and the narrative writing has excellent bits of characterization, plot, setting, and conflict. With that in mind, this comic is 4 out of 5 stars.
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The Schlub #6
Schlub #6 is an excellent conclusion to the story's first arc, but I still have many questions I want answers to!
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Christopher Rondeau is a storyteller based in Tulsa, OK. Finding himself with little work, he ended up creating a job as a Game Master full time on the internet. Chris spends most of his days reading everything he can, writing bad fiction, and watching old Digimon cartoons with his daughter. Sometimes you can find him Dungeon Mastering a podcast or streaming on twitch. Recently, he has completed his Master's degree with a focus on collaborative storytelling. Find out more at https://rondeaucreator.com