The latest issue of Matt Kindt’s Mind MGMT starts to tease Meru’s ultimate strengths just as things look the bleakest. Wanted for murder and on the run from the law, she needs to figure out her plan of attack. The problem is that she is penniless and stranded in Hong Kong, has no allies, and has no plan. Fortunately, several things have been put in motion to help unlock Meru’s true potential.

The writing in this issue is solid, without drawing much attention to itself. The plot has always been excellent at hinting at things in one issue and paying them off several issues later, without making a big deal out of it. The result is a rich and compelling world with deep connections and intricate plots. This issue pays some of those hints out and looks like it is throwing in a few new ones, as well. It does this while moving the plot along at a good pace and allowing for some more character exploration into one of my favorite comic book characters. I think that the two tests for writing in an ongoing comic book are “did you enjoy the issue?” and “do you want to see what happens next?” The answers are I absolutely did and I totally do.

The art in Mind MGMT is incredible. It ranges from loose and sketchy to richly detailed, depending on the purpose of the individual panel.

As the story moves from oppressive to chaotic to hopeful, the art style follows the story or leads it; I have read it several times and still am not sure which one is the chicken and which one is the egg. (By the way, that is not an open question; the egg came first.) There is a depth to the world that only comes through in the art. For example, there is a train trip that takes a single page that has some of the most interesting characters around. None of them say anything or interact with the story in any way, but they are awesome.

Mind MGMT has always been great, but this issue hits on all cylinders like an automobile reference. This issue is absolutely crucial to the ongoing story of Meru and The Eraser’s struggle for the future of Mind Management. It is also a decent jumping on point for anyone who missed the first two years of the series. The only problem with jumping in now is that those two years are spectacular and build a tremendous world to get lost in. This has been my favorite series for a long time, and this issue is great in all the ways I want a Mind MGMT story to be awesome. Please don’t miss this one.

Five Unexpected Rendezvouses out of Five