BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #5 – Review

BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #5, from Mad Cave Studios on December 29th, 2021, recounts how Valadar first became enthralled to the Lizard God and how his current hunt for the Battlecats causes him to question his allegiances.

The Details

• Written By: Mark London
• Art By: Michael Camelo
• Colors By: Tekino
• Letters By: Miguel A. Zapata
• Cover Art By: Michael Camelo
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: December 29, 2021

Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.

Was It Good?

BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #5 is best described as a seed-planting issue in the volume. There’s nothing wrong with planting seeds, you need those from time to time, and this issue does a better job than most.

Through flashbacks we see how Valadar was tempted over to the dark side with help from Myrthalen. A little origin story helps to build out the villain so readers can relate to his actions and motivations. More importantly, we see the alliance between Valadar and Myrthalen may not be as strong as originally portrayed, and the growing tension between them could lead to an interesting plot twist.

The other seed planted sees Natharien’s return with his knowledge about the presence of a second lion-born. Revelation about a second heir was the big plot twist moment from last issue, and here, Natharien uses the information as part of an undisclosed plan.

There isn’t huge plot movement, but there’s a lot going on with hints that big changes are about to land, so the issue does an excellent job of building anticipation for what’s to come.

The art is still some of the best of anything Mad Cave puts out. The colors pop, the fight scenes are down-to-earth and full of impact, and the emotion from the characters comes through loud and clear.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

Catch up on the whereabouts on the Queen and the Battlecats first by reading our BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #4 review.

We begin with a flashback to Valadar as he’s carted off the battlefield from an ill-conceived war campaign. Myrthalen finds him and offers to show him a better way than the endless cycle of war and failure. Before passing out Valadar accepts Myrthalen’s offer.

Later, we see Valadar is rejuvenated with magic Myrthalen and her cronies use in service to the Lizard God. Valadar is fully converted and convicted, but there’s a hint that the magic may be influencing Valadar in more ways than one.

Back to now, Myrthalen explains she’s found the location of the Queen and the Battlecats. The refugees see a glimmer of hope now that the Blood Priests have been defeated and the Blood Moon has faded, but their hope is short-lived when Valadar arrives at the Queen’s hiding spot. We conclude the issue with a well-fought but losing fight, the seed of discord planted, and Natharien arriving with information of interest to all sides.

Final Thoughts

BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #5 is a great example of an issue that plants seeds to build anticipation for big changes in the near future. The story beats, pacing, and emotional plot points are all excellent. The art builds on the emotion of the writing and pulls off gritty, bare-knuckled action. There’s a lot to like in this dramatic and mature chapter in the volume.

Score: 8/10

As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.