REVIEW: 'Postal' #18 by Bryan Hill, Isaac Goodhart, and K. Michael Russell

★★★★☆(4/5)

The townsfolk of Eden are none too pleased with the new mayor. Mark is taking the role for a spin on his mom's order and the criminal citizenry feels safer with the intimidating Momma Shiffron in charge instead. Meanwhile, Agent Bremble has to make a life-changing decision in his pursuit of Isaac Shiffron. 'Postal' #18 is a turning point for all involved and the lighting of the fuse that could prove to be explosive.

Bryan Hill does a masterful job creating an increasingly tense situation as issue eighteen nears the end. Its parallel storytelling is almost lyrical in its execution. On the one hand, you have Bremble with his captors and on the other is Mark with Molly. It marks the beginning of an unpredictable next act but is sure to go sideways and I can't wait. 

Maggie is enlisted by the locals to talk to Mark about stepping down in order to avoid a possible revolt. The scenes between Mark and Maggie are some of the best of the series. Their relationship has evolved as Mark sternly stands his ground as the town's new leader and Maggie puts him on notice about the possible consequences of his position. They've come a long way since the days he was smitten by her and she confided in him. It's a chilly friendship now and made worse with Mark's fascination with Molly, the FBI director's daughter who also happens to be a psychopath. 

As usual, Isaac Goodhart and K. Michael Russell provide a cinematic experience with the art. Russell especially gets to put in extra work during Bremble's flashback.Goodhart has become a great visual director establishing varied perspectives and angles that energize every scene.

'Postal' is the crime drama in comics that's as addictive as any on television. It loves to linger in the dark corners of society with bad people trying to be less bad in order to hold on to what they have, a safe uncomplicated place to call home. Issue eighteen challenges all of that with some decisions that are sure to have devasting results. Hill and Goodhart produced another solid chapter.