Brink: Book Four

Brink

by Dan Abnett, I.N.J. Culbard (Artist)

The fourth volume of the best-selling sci-fi detective series—Detective Bridget Kurtis has to solve a brand new mystery. The entire planet of Mercury seems to have vanished and a video clip is implicated in what looks like a mass-kill... as always on the brink of existence, truth may be stranger than fiction.

In the late 21st century, after humanity has left the Earth it poisoned and now huddles in deep-space Habitats, life on these cramped, overcrowded stations is tense, with many spilling over into madness. HSD cop Bridget Kurtis has investigated cults and murders that have driven her to the very edge, but now she must stop the spread of a viral video clip which sends viewers insane...

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Horror, Fiction, Detective, Crime

112 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 2021

Reviews

[Alex Habgood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spent more time adding backstory to Bridge, the main character. But ultimately climaxed with the level of carnage, that you expect from the series.

[Alex Sarll]

The middle of this really dragged, and had me wondering if another promising new 2000AD series was experiencing death by stretching. But then it came back around, and bits of clever formal stuff suddenly became apparent as absolutely plot-relevant too, and by the end it was maybe the best Brink yet. I also love, yet am haunted by, the idea of 'world-porn' – that in the space stations where the remnants of humanity are cooped up, footage of any depravity is readily available, but old nature documentaries and similar reminders of the world we squandered are far too dangerous, and thus rigidly regulated.
(And I wrote that review back when I read this, in the last month before we were all locked away from the world too. True, we at least have windows and walks over the inhabitants of these stations, but then they can socialise, so swings and roundabouts, except where those have been sealed off. I was impressed by this at the time, but with hindsight it hits harder still, to the point it's practically foreshadowing)

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant installation in this series. Very tense, some pieces are really coming together now.

[Paul Spence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fourth outing of Brink at first seems to have no connection with the previous books other than being set in the same universe, as we follow rookie police officer Tunde Weyoma at a crime scene. She reports suspicions to her superiors, but is met with contradiction and a brick wall. Dan Abnett’s played the disguise game and fooled us before, so this time it won’t happen, right?

Brink Book Three brought big changes to the known universe, although only a few people are aware of this. Instead of being acclaimed a hero Bridget Kurtis has been transferred back to the space station where she grew up. Twelve million people are crammed closely together and she’s now head of the major crimes unit. A leisurely lead-in is par for the course, so Abnett takes us through the police department and reinforces Bridget’s dark, straight-faced sense of humour, while feeding in the undercurrent that all is not well. That’s only increased as she settles in.

It’s merely repetition to state how well drawn Brink is. I.N.J. Culbard has an inherently amazing sense of design, which includes his colour choices, and although his art appears simple, it’s completely deceptive. Take a look at the detail on the space station, and indeed several times through the story. A small adjustment to an eyebrow or a mouth speaks volumes in terms of character, and as before, every single person is distinct, and Brink is a refreshingly glamour-free zone.

Things have changed since Bridget was last home. The barrio area has increased its boundaries considerably, and there are areas the police won’t go, which supplies the background to a different type of story for Brink.

Remove the SF trappings and Book Four is for the most part a procedural police drama with a department viewed from the outside by the newbie unsure who she can trust, and whether the instructed priorities are corrupt. Abnett distracts along the way with nice sidelines such as the persistent automated swear box, which actually has a brilliant pay-off, and once the setting’s been established Abnett drops surprise after surprise. Yes, it’s scaling back a little from previous volumes, but there are ties and a bittersweet conclusion.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Earth is dead, and humanity has moved into deep-space habitats in Brink Book Four.

Bridget Kurtis and Gita Gibrani were habitat police officers working on the mysterious disappearance of Mercury. Soon, the feds stepped in. Both women were promoted and sent to separate habitats. However, they continue the investigation on their own time.

Meanwhile, Bridget is investigating a mass murder on her habitat that may or may not be related to the outlawed world porn along with a rookie cop. World porn is black-market nature shows from before the Earth’s death.

The plot is interesting. I wanted more investigation of the Mercury case. However, the local case is wrapped up in this volume. The art is bright primary colors. The characters are easily distinguishable from each other. Overall, Brink Book Four receives 3 stars from me.

Thanks to 2000 AD, Rebellion, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Brink Book Four' by Dan Abnett with art by INJ Culbard is a graphic novel in space with a mystery at it's core.

Bridget Kurtis is a cop with an attitude living on a Habitat. When a gruesome mass murder happens, the clues point to a video file that is deadly and the man responsible for the death of Bridget's father.

Although I hadn't read the first 3 volumes, I was able to become immersed in this world pretty easily. I liked this gritty police procedural and the art was great too!

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Rebellion, 2000 AD, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the wild conclusion of Book Three, Kurtis is somewhat sidelined in a desk job with no remit in the Habitat where she grew up. Drug gangs vie, corruption is rife, but there seems little to do for a specialist in dangerous Sect activity. In the aftermath of a massacre, however, Kurtis realises somethign bad is up, but it's weirder and worse than she could possibly expect.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recent Reads: Brink Book 4. Abnett and Culbard's SF police procedural sends Bridget Kurtis to a new habitat. A video of the Mercury Event is driving people to homicidal insanity. Kurtis needs to find it or millions of lives will be at risk. Existential madness on or elder gods?

[Stephen Birss · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the world of The Brink, it never takes much for chaos to overflow and for humanity to be quickly topple over into annihilation. There is some great evil which lurks in a smuggled video clip which seems to be driving people insane. With some major Event Horizon vibes, Dan Abnett's fourth installment of The Brink picks up the story and retains the dark, ominous atmosphere of its predecessors.

My biggest gripe with this book is that it does so little to push the overarching story forward. With a collection of throwaway characters and a little development of themes or ideas, it feels like treading water. The character of Bridget Kurtis is intimidating and forthright, as always, but she does her stuff and that's pretty much it. A criminal overlord (whose name I can't even remember, such was the impact that he made) looms over her on the front cover and yet he's inconsequential to the plot; he only appears in two scenes. His positioning on the cover art is misleading, making him seem like he is in some way controlling or influencing Kurtis, where there is virtually no relationship between them.

I was haunted by the story, particularly towards its climax, but it just feels like one brief chapter in a story that I wished would get moving. It's on the brink of something brilliant.

[Mikael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good but will the series be finished?

[Red Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot thickens! The story gains yet another terrifying twist.

[Gary Varga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great chapter (book) in the Brink story. Not quite as good as the prior three but absolutely remains as an excellent read.

[Cloak88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool.

Review to follow