Raven’s battle with the Shadow Riders – and her patience with Baron Winters – are both boiling to a head. Despite her misgivings, her alliance with the other arcanes is turning them into a genuine team, which is good, because her efforts have home may have permanent repercussions where her family is concerned. And it definitely has permanent repercussions for one of her allies, Barf Boy notwithstanding.

It’s taken us a long time to get here, though perhaps not as long as the 12-issue limited series has allowed. Ten may have done just as well, maybe even less. But the benefit seems to be a major shift in Raven’s overall narrative, one that seems like a good fit – at least for now.

I’m still not a fan of Pop Mhan’s artwork, though it has improved over the course of the series. Every journeyman must make mistakes, and making them in public can be a tremendous opportunity to learn. Mhan seems to have embraced that, so his artwork can only improve in the course of future projects.

I look forward to next issue. Not because it’s the end of the series or any sort of climactic battle between the forces of good and evil. But because the series as a whole will be complete, and I can look forward to enjoying it as a whole, complete story, rather than being spoonfed to me in bits and pieces.