The final chapter of the current story arc seems disappointing, but then I came late to this party, so your mileage may vary. Faora is on the verge of corrupting the magic that exists in this alternate reality, turning herself into an unstoppable weapon of mass destruction. The final fates of several characters are revealed, with enough being left open-ended for more exploration in the future.

It seems a bit rushed, featuring the artwork of three artists, as if in a bid to get the book done on time. The first 10 pages of story seem crude and unpolished; the next 10 are more consistent with what I’ve come to expect from the book. All of which comprise the final battle, though the narrative seems poorly constructed. In one panel, Raven says, “The magic the general stole is corrupt magic – unstable magic, blood magic –“ More awkward phrasing includes “the last of the daughters of the Joker’s Daughter.” I guess it was the editor’s day off.

The final 10 pages of the book make up the aftermath of battle, amidst panels of flowers, vines and other pastoral scenes. Accompanying the imagery are song lyrics, poetic though they may be, but ineffective when presented as the written word.

I don’t want to appear overly critical of the book. I must acknowledge I am handicapped by coming in late, but perhaps it’s just not the book for me. I appreciate the concept, but it hasn’t played out as I expected.