The conclusion of The Death of Sleep is an intriguing end to a well-orchestrated spin on the Bloodborne universe.
Titan Comics, along with writer Aleš Kot and artists Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson, have managed to spin the twisted, macabre world of Bloodborne into an original piece that paints an equally eerie and convoluted picture of Yharnam. In Issue #4, our beloved Hunter and the child close out their harrowing journey in a very surprising way. Through these four issues, we’ve been able to venture through many memorable locales while being treated to unique viewpoint of the world that From Software created. I am eager to see what sort of things await our Hunter in the second story arc.
Issue #4 starts off and entirely takes place in one of Bloodborne’s greatest locations: the Fishing Hamlet. Having successfully defeated the Blood-Starved Beast that had been tracking them from Iosefka’s clinic, the two are in search of a boat that will take them away from this wretched land. The child’s ability to see the Amygdala that litter the pathways proves beneficial, as the Hunter is guided slowly through the winding streets of the Fishing Hamlet. Both the Hunter and the child express their distaste for the nightmare and their desire to be back in the waking world, to be rid of this horrible dream. The personality and humanity given to the Hunter throughout these four issues is a welcome, and heartfelt, change to the Bloodborne world.
Not long after the arrival at the Fishing Hamlet, the child’s true nature appears to be revealed, along with hints towards its past and lineage. It’s still up in the air whether or not this child truly is the Paleblood that will help transcend the hunt, but it is certain that it possesses otherworldly powers. Without giving too much away, I greatly appreciate the amount of humility and sense this Hunter character possesses throughout the entirety of this first chapter. Battling the urges of the “Hunter must hunt” mentality with the desire to protect and guide the child makes for a character and world you feel more invested in. As the Hunter sails off with the child, away from the wicked world of the nightmare, we get one last look at the Saw Cleaver, now planted in the sand. A Hunter willingly venturing off weaponless; an image so foreign to Bloodborne.
All together, The Death of Sleep is a fantastic story for fans of the series and an approachable and interesting one for newcomers. Incredible art and impressive storytelling make for a world full of imagination and wonder, with doses of fear and darkness. I like how the writer, artists, and team at Titan Comics crafted a look into the Bloodborne universe that didn’t rely on the heavy-handed gothic horror and gore of the game. Though I will always love Bloodborne for what it is, travelling through Yharnam with a Hunter who is weary of their purpose and place in the world was a welcome change of pace. I look forward to seeing what comes of this tale in the second chapter, The Healing Thirst.
