Up until this point, Fatale has been a good series that seems like it was constantly on the verge of doing something great. With issue #4, Fatale has crossed that line. Fatale #4 is sinister, brilliant and quite possibly the best thing Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips have ever done. That is saying something.

Fatale #4 has it all: crime, sex, violence and squid monsters driving trucks full of dead bodies (seriously). We are finally seeing all the separate characters and plotlines intersect in a big way. If you have been enjoying this series so far, prepare to fall deeply in love with it. It's that awesome.

When it comes down to it, the strength of Brubaker and Phillips' teamwork can be summed up in a single scene: the interrogation. There are a set of photos of a bloody murder that the characters are investigating. Brubaker describes the photos and Phillips draws people's reaction. The reader never sees them, and we don't want to. The horror and violence radiates from the page and we never see a damn thing. It's genius. This is a well-oiled machine at work, people.

Phillips has always been great with character work; with the subtle moments. In Fatale #4, he really shines. He knows when to show us nothing more than a smile. Or when to let the shadows fill a panel. The darkness feels like it is always keeping you from seeing the horror right around the corner. All you catch is the glimpse of a tentacle, a flash of teeth.

Fans of Brubaker and Phillips won't be disappointed with this issue. They have become one of those teams that are synonymous with great comic books. There is very little these guys touch that doesn't come out great. If you haven't been reading Fatale, don't start here. Go back and pick up the first three issues and then read the glory that is issue #4. You won't be disappointed.

• More Comics Reviews
• Latest Comics News, Reviews, and Videos