Let's Talk About ALIENATED #4
BOOM! Studios has dropped Alienated #4 this week, and wow. Simon Spurrier and Chris Wildgoose are spinning quite the drama. If you haven’t read the issue yet, you can grab your copy from local comic shops or online through outlets like comiXology.
This issue focuses on Samir and is similar to the last issue in that he goes on an adventure with Chip to deal with something from his past. In this case, he goes to find his dad who he believes left because of him. He later finds out that it had nothing to do with him and instead had to do with his father choosing to leave and start a new family. Well, Samantha rushes to get Samir out of this weird state of mind and finds him inflicting self harm via razor blade. This is not a pretty scene at all, but it looks like Samantha showed up in time to save him.
Samuel can’t help but cause problems. He just continues to be as angsty as possible saying that Chip has to be used to change the world while Samantha says Chip is just a child and should be able to choose. Things don’t go well when Samuel meets a vlogger who identifies him as the Hooded Hierophant. Eventually, Samuel learns that he was rejected from some big online show and that’s where problems really happen.
All throughout the issue, Chip is feeling hurt and in pain. However, it appears that Chip likes to feed on emotions, or at least negative emotions at the moment. This means that with Samir’s feelings shifting towards his dad and Samuel’s feelings about how the world is against him and sucks, Chip is seeming to get a little out of control and disintegrates Samir’s dad. Yeah.
Honestly, I hate Samuel. He’s one of those teenagers who thinks they’re way smarter and deeper than they actually are and the world is just out to get them. Always playing the victim and never acknowledging that maybe things are ok even if not perfect.
One thing I did greatly appreciate is that the number for the Suicide Prevention Hotline was included. There’s some intense stuff as Samir is self-harming and I hope that anyone who is self-harming or knows someone who is, can reach out for help.