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Clear
Clear #4
A sci-fi mystery thrill-ride into a strange dystopian future, where a neurological internet connection is transforming reality.
Batman writer SCOTT SNYDER and Detective Comics artist FRANCIS MANAPUL unite to take readers on this hard-boiled sci-fi journey.
Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content only available on comiXology and Kindle. Read for free as part of your subscription to comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime. Also available for purchase via comiXology, Kindle and collected in print via Dark Horse Books.
Batman writer SCOTT SNYDER and Detective Comics artist FRANCIS MANAPUL unite to take readers on this hard-boiled sci-fi journey.
Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content only available on comiXology and Kindle. Read for free as part of your subscription to comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime. Also available for purchase via comiXology, Kindle and collected in print via Dark Horse Books.
22 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2022
About the author
Scott Snyder
1,781 books5,418 followersScott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 28, 2024
The plot picks up right where the previous issue left off, with our protagonist, disillusioned ex-cop named Sam Dunes, caught in a web of intrigue and danger within a society where emotions, memories, and perceptions are controlled through advanced technology. In a near-future, hyper-surveilled city that has reached the extremes of clarity and control through the use of "Clear," a device that allows individuals to literally wipe out or alter their memories and experiences.
Snyder's writing continues to be razor-sharp, exploring themes of identity, autonomy, and the essence of human emotion. Dunes, an outsider in this world of controlled perceptions, finds himself on the trail of a mystery that unravels not only his personal history but also the darker underpinnings of the city’s social system. In this issue, the stakes rise, as Dunes faces moral dilemmas and confronts the shadowy forces that govern the city's fragmented society.
The story's pacing is tight, with Snyder skillfully balancing action, introspection, and tension. What stands out in this chapter is how Snyder delves deeper into the philosophical implications of the technology that shapes this world. The sense of unease and paranoia that permeated earlier issues is palpable here, especially as Dunes begins to see the cracks in the system and his own psyche. The line between truth and illusion becomes increasingly blurred, making every revelation feel like a precarious step towards both discovery and danger.
Snyder's writing continues to be razor-sharp, exploring themes of identity, autonomy, and the essence of human emotion. Dunes, an outsider in this world of controlled perceptions, finds himself on the trail of a mystery that unravels not only his personal history but also the darker underpinnings of the city’s social system. In this issue, the stakes rise, as Dunes faces moral dilemmas and confronts the shadowy forces that govern the city's fragmented society.
The story's pacing is tight, with Snyder skillfully balancing action, introspection, and tension. What stands out in this chapter is how Snyder delves deeper into the philosophical implications of the technology that shapes this world. The sense of unease and paranoia that permeated earlier issues is palpable here, especially as Dunes begins to see the cracks in the system and his own psyche. The line between truth and illusion becomes increasingly blurred, making every revelation feel like a precarious step towards both discovery and danger.
March 27, 2022
I read this comic via Kindle Unlimited.
I will not follow you down. I swear I won't. It's all I can think because this is how he killed you, isn't it? This man who looks like me, who is me, pushed you to the edge then over.
Clear continues to be my favourite of the Scott-tober series. The art is this book is mind-blowing and it's a story that will continue to keep you hooked throughout. The last issue left with Sam being dangled off the side of the cliff by a man with his face but yellow eyes and when Collins shows up to intercept Sam, the yellow eye kills him and steals his car. While Collins is dying, Sam thinks about how the veils have a feature that when you're dying, your brain and the veil don't disconnect immediately and if you are sharing a veil with someone who is dying, what they see will drag you down with them. The man with the yellow eyes told Sam the joke his son told him, and it leads Sam to believe that someone told him about the Black Veil Sam used to have. When he confronts the maker of the veil, he's told only Kendra, his dead ex-wife, wanted information on it and we learn that Sam used the veil to imagine a world where his son got to grow up. This story is obviously very dystopian but it has a lot of heart in it, which I think keeps me coming back.
There's one place left to go. To get there I have to do the one thing I just swore to you I wouldn't do. But it's time to do it. It's time to follow you down.
I will not follow you down. I swear I won't. It's all I can think because this is how he killed you, isn't it? This man who looks like me, who is me, pushed you to the edge then over.
Clear continues to be my favourite of the Scott-tober series. The art is this book is mind-blowing and it's a story that will continue to keep you hooked throughout. The last issue left with Sam being dangled off the side of the cliff by a man with his face but yellow eyes and when Collins shows up to intercept Sam, the yellow eye kills him and steals his car. While Collins is dying, Sam thinks about how the veils have a feature that when you're dying, your brain and the veil don't disconnect immediately and if you are sharing a veil with someone who is dying, what they see will drag you down with them. The man with the yellow eyes told Sam the joke his son told him, and it leads Sam to believe that someone told him about the Black Veil Sam used to have. When he confronts the maker of the veil, he's told only Kendra, his dead ex-wife, wanted information on it and we learn that Sam used the veil to imagine a world where his son got to grow up. This story is obviously very dystopian but it has a lot of heart in it, which I think keeps me coming back.
There's one place left to go. To get there I have to do the one thing I just swore to you I wouldn't do. But it's time to do it. It's time to follow you down.
January 28, 2022
Clear continues to be one of Snyder's best works
Clear continues its trend of world-building and character development; combined with its exceptional artwork makes this issue and series as a whole a must-read for any fan of the genre. This issue delivers a gut-wretching ending that sets up the next issue perfectly. This is easily one of my favorite current series.
Clear continues its trend of world-building and character development; combined with its exceptional artwork makes this issue and series as a whole a must-read for any fan of the genre. This issue delivers a gut-wretching ending that sets up the next issue perfectly. This is easily one of my favorite current series.
April 25, 2022
Interesting. Feel like I'm learning a bit with this mystery. Always a solid cliff hanger ending.
March 14, 2023
The story just got away from it - it was all a bit too heavy for me.
Some people want noir all the time, I only want noir a little bit.
The premise of this book is amazing though, the character design of our main protagonist is amazing (helmet, gloves and hand print design - the clothes I couldn’t care less about).
I just think this needs to be lighter and smoother to follow (or more clever if it’s going to be this serious and not just serious for serious’ sake).
Could be a 5/5 series, but I’d give it a 3.8 the way it is.
Some people want noir all the time, I only want noir a little bit.
The premise of this book is amazing though, the character design of our main protagonist is amazing (helmet, gloves and hand print design - the clothes I couldn’t care less about).
I just think this needs to be lighter and smoother to follow (or more clever if it’s going to be this serious and not just serious for serious’ sake).
Could be a 5/5 series, but I’d give it a 3.8 the way it is.
September 8, 2026
Clear Vol. 4 — When the Truth Becomes Dangerous
Scott Snyder’s Clear #4, with art and colors by Francis Manapul, is arguably one of the most tense chapters of the series so far. The mystery surrounding Sam Dunes, Kendra, and the Veils becomes increasingly complicated, while Sam himself finds his world collapsing around him.
The issue picks up with Sam in immediate danger. He encounters someone who looks remarkably like him, forcing him to confront a terrifying possibility: in a world where technology can manipulate perception and identity, how can you even know who you are dealing with? The encounter pushes the detective mystery into much more unsettling territory.
A Mystery That Keeps Changing
One of the strengths of Clear #4 is the way Snyder keeps shifting our understanding of the central mystery. Just when Sam seems to have found an answer, another question appears.
The investigation into Kendra’s death becomes increasingly personal. Sam starts connecting her actions with the technology behind the Veils, while the revelation surrounding his own past gives the story an emotional weight that goes beyond the usual cyberpunk detective narrative.
Snyder cleverly keeps both Sam and the reader uncertain. What appears to be the obvious answer may itself be another illusion or red herring. That uncertainty fits perfectly with the central concept of Clear: when perception can be manipulated, even evidence can become questionable.
The Emotional Heart of the Issue
Beneath all the futuristic technology and detective work, Clear #4 is really about loss.
Sam’s memories of his family and the tragedy surrounding his son and Kendra give his investigation a deeply emotional motivation. His desire to understand what happened isn’t simply professional curiosity. He is desperately trying to make sense of a past he cannot change.
This makes the concept of the Veils much more disturbing. If technology allowed you to experience a version of reality where the people you lost could still exist, would you have the strength to reject it?
That’s one of the most powerful questions Snyder introduces.
Francis Manapul’s Visual Mastery
Francis Manapul continues to be one of the biggest reasons Clear works so well.
His artwork combines neo-noir darkness with futuristic neon imagery, creating a San Francisco that feels both familiar and alien. The action sequences have tremendous energy, while the quieter scenes use color and composition to emphasize Sam’s isolation.
The issue’s visual contrast between the gritty real world and the extraordinary possibilities created by the Veils reinforces the central theme: reality may be ugly, but illusion can be dangerously beautiful. Reviews particularly praised Manapul’s fight choreography, atmospheric coloring, and futuristic imagery.
A Few Weaknesses
The noir influence sometimes becomes a little heavy-handed. Sam’s internal narration can feel overly dramatic in places, particularly during some of the more emotional scenes. But this is also part of the comic’s identity, and it generally fits the hard-boiled detective atmosphere.
More importantly, the issue never loses momentum. It ends on a major cliffhanger, leaving Sam in an increasingly desperate position and making the next chapter difficult to resist.
Scott Snyder’s Clear #4, with art and colors by Francis Manapul, is arguably one of the most tense chapters of the series so far. The mystery surrounding Sam Dunes, Kendra, and the Veils becomes increasingly complicated, while Sam himself finds his world collapsing around him.
The issue picks up with Sam in immediate danger. He encounters someone who looks remarkably like him, forcing him to confront a terrifying possibility: in a world where technology can manipulate perception and identity, how can you even know who you are dealing with? The encounter pushes the detective mystery into much more unsettling territory.
A Mystery That Keeps Changing
One of the strengths of Clear #4 is the way Snyder keeps shifting our understanding of the central mystery. Just when Sam seems to have found an answer, another question appears.
The investigation into Kendra’s death becomes increasingly personal. Sam starts connecting her actions with the technology behind the Veils, while the revelation surrounding his own past gives the story an emotional weight that goes beyond the usual cyberpunk detective narrative.
Snyder cleverly keeps both Sam and the reader uncertain. What appears to be the obvious answer may itself be another illusion or red herring. That uncertainty fits perfectly with the central concept of Clear: when perception can be manipulated, even evidence can become questionable.
The Emotional Heart of the Issue
Beneath all the futuristic technology and detective work, Clear #4 is really about loss.
Sam’s memories of his family and the tragedy surrounding his son and Kendra give his investigation a deeply emotional motivation. His desire to understand what happened isn’t simply professional curiosity. He is desperately trying to make sense of a past he cannot change.
This makes the concept of the Veils much more disturbing. If technology allowed you to experience a version of reality where the people you lost could still exist, would you have the strength to reject it?
That’s one of the most powerful questions Snyder introduces.
Francis Manapul’s Visual Mastery
Francis Manapul continues to be one of the biggest reasons Clear works so well.
His artwork combines neo-noir darkness with futuristic neon imagery, creating a San Francisco that feels both familiar and alien. The action sequences have tremendous energy, while the quieter scenes use color and composition to emphasize Sam’s isolation.
The issue’s visual contrast between the gritty real world and the extraordinary possibilities created by the Veils reinforces the central theme: reality may be ugly, but illusion can be dangerously beautiful. Reviews particularly praised Manapul’s fight choreography, atmospheric coloring, and futuristic imagery.
A Few Weaknesses
The noir influence sometimes becomes a little heavy-handed. Sam’s internal narration can feel overly dramatic in places, particularly during some of the more emotional scenes. But this is also part of the comic’s identity, and it generally fits the hard-boiled detective atmosphere.
More importantly, the issue never loses momentum. It ends on a major cliffhanger, leaving Sam in an increasingly desperate position and making the next chapter difficult to resist.
April 4, 2022
I will not follow you down. I swear I won't. It's all I can think, because this is how he killed you, isn't it? This man who looks like me. Who is me. Pushed you to the edge, then over.
I have had a little break from my comiXology original Scott Snyder comics but now have the free time to come back to them.
Clear it is a noir style murder mystery set in a dystopian future where people us 'veils' to hide the real world and see what they want to see instead.
Former policeman and current Private Eye, Sam Dunes, prefers to stay 'clear' and see the world how it is. His work is usually simple investigations, following husbands who prefer to 'veil' their wives into someone or something else.
His world is turned upside down by the apparent suicide of his ex-wife. After finding her message, that she'd been killed, he is on the hunt for the perpetrators. The investigation leads him to being attacked by a mysterious stranger with yellow eyes who looks shockingly like him. Fighting for survival, Sam now has the police after him and is running out of places to hide and acquaintances to turn to.
This is very good and right up my street. The juxtaposition between the classic noir PI styling and narration with the dystopian dying world hidden by advancing technology is very intriguing and I look forward to the next issue. 5 stars.
I have had a little break from my comiXology original Scott Snyder comics but now have the free time to come back to them.
Clear it is a noir style murder mystery set in a dystopian future where people us 'veils' to hide the real world and see what they want to see instead.
Former policeman and current Private Eye, Sam Dunes, prefers to stay 'clear' and see the world how it is. His work is usually simple investigations, following husbands who prefer to 'veil' their wives into someone or something else.
His world is turned upside down by the apparent suicide of his ex-wife. After finding her message, that she'd been killed, he is on the hunt for the perpetrators. The investigation leads him to being attacked by a mysterious stranger with yellow eyes who looks shockingly like him. Fighting for survival, Sam now has the police after him and is running out of places to hide and acquaintances to turn to.
This is very good and right up my street. The juxtaposition between the classic noir PI styling and narration with the dystopian dying world hidden by advancing technology is very intriguing and I look forward to the next issue. 5 stars.
February 5, 2022
'It's time to follow you down. All the way down to the bottom.'
Oh man, this has got to be the most heart-wrenching issue yet. THE REVELATIONS FUCKING HURTED.
Also, the whole aspect of . Really hoping for more of that 🙏
The art continues to shine through and the colors remain an amazing blend of neon and more subdued tones. Just so much love for Francis Manapul's work. I can't get enough.
Oh man, this has got to be the most heart-wrenching issue yet. THE REVELATIONS FUCKING HURTED.
Also, the whole aspect of . Really hoping for more of that 🙏
The art continues to shine through and the colors remain an amazing blend of neon and more subdued tones. Just so much love for Francis Manapul's work. I can't get enough.
June 16, 2023
Obwohl die Teile recht kurz sind (knapp über 20 Seiten) geht mir der Story Fortschritt viel zu langsam. Für mich persönlich fehlt es an Infos bzw Aussichten. Das hat mich nicht bei Laune halten können, weil irgendwie kein Lösungsansatz in Sicht ist. Es tun sich nur immer mehr Schichten auf, das ist mir im Moment leider zu wage.
April 13, 2022
Every Issue?
Issue No. 4: Apparently, the answers to the questions posed in every new issue can only be found in near-death experiences. One of these times, Dunes is actually going to bite the bullet.
Issue No. 4: Apparently, the answers to the questions posed in every new issue can only be found in near-death experiences. One of these times, Dunes is actually going to bite the bullet.
April 2, 2023
Wow Kendra and dune, that's tough
Can anything else go wrong for dune, with Kendra and his son and the yellowed eyed guy that knew his sons joke that's hard , Snyder is a master with comics.
Can anything else go wrong for dune, with Kendra and his son and the yellowed eyed guy that knew his sons joke that's hard , Snyder is a master with comics.
February 10, 2022
Wow
Really lobe how dark the tone is. Cyberpunk noir has to be my new favorite genre. This is beyond amazing
Really lobe how dark the tone is. Cyberpunk noir has to be my new favorite genre. This is beyond amazing
August 13, 2022
Wow, yes!! Loved this issue! This really brought the story along nicely, showing us how veils are used, and seeing Sam’s connection to veils. Interested to see this last issue now…
November 23, 2022
Clear #4
I am, still really enjoying the series. The story and artistry are fantastic. I'll be starting the next chapter soon.
I am, still really enjoying the series. The story and artistry are fantastic. I'll be starting the next chapter soon.
May 18, 2023
Read my previous review on #2 because the volumes I read of these are collected together. :)
April 23, 2024
#4 – “Don’t = unh = .. Don’t you say her name!! WHO ARE YOU?”
August 12, 2024
I'm getting more and more lost... This is the worst chapter so far... I would stop reading, but I'm so close to the end!
May 21, 2022
I can't remember if it was introduced earlier - it must have been - but in Issue #4 we are shown why Dunes prefers to be "clear" instead of "veiled" and I want to say that we are introduced to the notion of a "black veil" - an illegal "veil" that is "homemade."
It's clear why people prefer veils in Clear. This issue gives you a glimpse at the veil Dunes used. The issue also reveals more of Kendra's plans and how they were connected to the "underground."
It successfully made me want to read more. Though I am kind of tired of these "cliffhanger" style endings - these big dramatic endings - even if they were predictable you would at least have the anticipation of learning how the writer writes the hero out of the predicament but Clear is slowly losing me in this aspect. The resolutions seem more convenient than creative.
Then again maybe it's because each issue is only 21 pages so I might feel differently if they were all together in a single book.
It's clear why people prefer veils in Clear. This issue gives you a glimpse at the veil Dunes used. The issue also reveals more of Kendra's plans and how they were connected to the "underground."
It successfully made me want to read more. Though I am kind of tired of these "cliffhanger" style endings - these big dramatic endings - even if they were predictable you would at least have the anticipation of learning how the writer writes the hero out of the predicament but Clear is slowly losing me in this aspect. The resolutions seem more convenient than creative.
Then again maybe it's because each issue is only 21 pages so I might feel differently if they were all together in a single book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews