★★★★☆ (4/5)
'Postal' is a world unto itself and its residents are a breed all their own. At its center is our anchor, our rock, the sole postal service employee and mayor's son, Mark. Mark's unique abilities make him a compelling and endearing character throughout all the weirdness that takes place in the small hidden town of Eden. Someone just arrived that is going to shake things up and in a town designed not to be found (not even by Google Maps) that's the last thing you want to do.
We say goodbye to co-writer Matt Hawkins as Bryan Hill takes over as the sole writer. Hill's singular vision unfolds with the arrival of one seemingly innocent and genial young lady. However, no one who comes to Eden is innocent so Molly is hiding something and it isn't long before we witness what she is capable of. She's staying with Mayor Shiffron in Mark's old room and she may be more than even she can handle.
We find Mark playing an awful game of 'hide and seek' and because of his Asperger's he's more attuned at observing things and finds Maggie easily. That superior attention to detail comes in handy later for Mark. Hill adds amusing touches like this that lighten the mood at times softening the belly before he punches you in the kidney soon after. He's really grown as a character. He's always been straightforward and sincere but now he has much more confidence especially with Maggie. We just don't know yet what Molly's intentions with Mark are.
As good as always are artists Isaac Goodhart and Betsy Gonia. Goodhart continues to provide wonderful illustrations but his layout design in this issue is some of his best work. The sequence in the bar that visually captures Mark's thought process and dissemination of information is executed masterfully. Gonia keeps things dark and moody even in daylight where there's a perpetual raincloud hanging over Eden. Having to "light" each scene with the proper amount and direction of shading must be maddening but Gonia effortlessly attains an effective noir look.
'Postal' #9 addresses some plot points while establishing new ones. Bryan Hill unleashes Molly on Eden leaving us dying to know more. The series is as unpredictable as ever and one of the most devilishly entertaining books you'll find.
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