BATTLE CHASERS #12, from Image Comics on 8/23/23, joins the battle on multiple fronts when Gully faces the consequences for taking the gauntlets, Red Monika fights for her life, and Garrison becomes… something else.
The Details
- Written by: Joe Madureira
- Art by: Ludo Lullabi
- Colors by: Joe Madureira, Billy Garretsen
- Letters by: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover art by: Ludo Lullabi
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 23, 2023
Is It Good?
Talk about a barn burner. BATTLE CHASERS #12 kicks the pacing into overdrive and takes several big steps forward on all plot threads for a comic packed with action consequences, stakes, and tension throughout. Joe Madureira’s latest entry delivers the goods in a big way.
When last we left Garrison, his rage over the loss of his home at the hands of Maestro and the hunters activated the dormant power within Limbo. Issue #11 ended with Garrison no more and something else in his place. Now, the entity formerly known as Garrison makes easy work of Maestro’s heavy hitters while Red Monika uses her flexible talents to fight her hunter, and Gully is confronted by the King over the gauntlets.
Wheesh! That’s a lot, but to Medureira’s credit, the scenes are fully fleshed out with a hint of rushing, the transitions from one thread to the next are seamless, and each hero gets an opportunity to move their personal thread forward. BATTLE CHASERS #12 is jam-packed with storytelling material, so you’re definitely going to get your money’s worth.
What’s great about this comic? Practically everything. In terms of basic writing execution, you get energy, pacing, strong emotional beats, organic dialog, and killer action that works to further the story. What makes BATTLE CHASERS #12 so remarkable is the number of threads Madureira juggles without shortchanging any subplot or character. The precision of this script is impressive.
What’s not so great about this comic? The majority of the action sequences involve Maestro and his hunters. Visually, each hunter has a unique look and set of abilities, but learning who they are and even their names is the one area that feels shortchanged. In the grand scheme, not knowing the names, personalities, and powers of all of Maestro’s hunters is not a big deal, but it is a mildly irritating gap.
How’s the art? Ludo Lullabi’s pencils/inks are strong, powerful, and crackling with energy. The character work and cpanel composition have very obvious Manga influences (7 Deadly Sins comes to mind), but Lullabi’s influences enhance the visuals rather than trying too hard to look like a knockoff. This series holds up as one of the best examples of Western/Manga fusion.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our BATTLE CHASERS #11 review to find out how Garrions left the battlefield without leaving the battlefield.
We begin with King Urik entering the inner chambers of his armory while he bickers with Knolan. The King is unhappy with Gully’s decision to break in and “steal” the power gloves, but Knolan begs for leniency. When the King confronts Gully, the meeting isn’t a happy one.
Elsewhere, Garrison is no more. Instead, Garrison is replaced by the spirit within Limbo called Wranneth. When Maestro’s hunters attack, Wranneth appears unbeatable. Meanwhile, Red Monika fights off another hunter with a cursed gun powered by blood. The hunter appears to get the upper hand until he learns his constantly bloodthirsty gun is out of blood.
We conclude the issue with a death sentence, a message in an ancient tongue, and a second chance.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BATTLE CHASERS #12 gives you everything you want in an action/fantasy game adaptation with big fights, dramatic tension, plot progression, stakes, and character development. Madureira’s script is all the more impressive for the number of subplots that get equal time to shine, and Lulabi’s art is exquisite.
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