The Wild Card virus took countless lives and transformed others forever. One man is Croyd Crenson, who changes form every time he sleeps. Check it out in Wild Cards: Drawing of Cards #4 by Marvel Comics!

Wild Cards #4 Review — You can read this issue via our Amazon affiliate link

WILD CARDS: DRAWING OF CARDS #4 (OF 4)

Writer: Paul Cornell
Artist: Enid Balám and Lee Townsend
Colorist: Ruth Redmond
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Editor: Jordan D. White
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 26th, 2022

Previously in Wild Cards: The Takisans manufactured a bioweapon released over Manhattan. People reacted in three ways. Black Queens died immediately, Jokers were immediately disfigured, and Aces were the minority that gained new abilities. Croyd Crenson is between a Joker and an Ace due to his constantly changing body. Now he visits Dr. Tachyon, a Takisan defector, to figure out what he can do.

DO NOT SLEEP

Wild Cards: Drawing of Cards #4 starts with Dr. Tachyon informing Croyd of the exact nature of his powers. Croyd wants to stay human-like for his sister’s wedding, so Dr. Tachyon suggests he remain awake. Croyd commits crimes to buy speed and earn money for her sister’s wedding. With his powers, he accidentally hurt, possibly killed, a security guard. On the same night, he saves a Joker from being beaten up.

With the money, Croyd buys his sister a wedding dress. However, his body is literally deteriorating from the drugs and lack of sleep. He goes to a tailor who makes him a suit and stitches his skin back into his body. However, at the wedding, his body can’t take it, turning into a gargoyle/batlike monster and ruining the ceremony. Croyd flees the scene.

A UNIQUE CONCEPT

I really enjoy the Wild Cards book series. However, Wild Cards: Drawing of Cards #4 seems like a complicated story to put in comic book form. It has many good ideas, but to tell Croyd’s story in two issues while also showing off his struggle seems like an impossible task. The creative team did an excellent job with their page space, but it didn’t quite land. Croyd’s journey has unique challenges, but his desire to be a hero while acting like a criminal has an exciting relationship. With that being said, I think his turning into a wretched creature and running away is an excellent end to this character’s origin story. There is also a lot of potential for him to return if Marvel continues this series.

The art style has an odd combination of retro and noir. The muted colors give it an older style that fits the book’s setting. The art style didn’t really stand out to me, but I appreciated the creative team’s choices in their approach to the art.

BOTTOM LINE: UNIQUE STORY

Wild Cards: Drawing of Cards #4 is a unique story that has a tone of potential. I am unsure if it was executed poorly or if the story doesn’t work in comic form. Croyd Crenson needed another issue to explore the character. Still, he has an engaging plotline that overshadows his lack of characterization. This comic is a solid 3.5 out of 5, and I want to see if there will be more issues of Wild Cards, particularly with Golden Boy and the Four Aces, in the future.

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