BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #7 – Review

BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #7, from Mad Cave Studios on March 30th, 2022, brings the battle for the soul of Valderia together in an epic finale as the rebel Battlecats confront Valadar and Myrthalen.

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: March 30, 2022

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Was It Good?

In the not too distant future, when comics historians discuss what runs or arcs a reader could hold up as the very definition of “EPIC”, Battlecats belongs on that list. After years and multiple volumes, the battle for Valderia and the Lion God comes down to this last issue, and it’s a fitting end for followers of the series.

In BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #7, we conclude the final battle where Kelthan, the remaining Battlecats, the Queen, and the fighters of White Marsh Island all converge on Valadar’s forces for a deciding showdown. London nails the satisfaction factor in this issue by telling even more story than you might’ve expected. We learn about Valadar’s “conversion” from good to evil. We see through Myrthalen the true evil behind the King’s downfall, and the ending is practically brimming with bittersweet emotion. What makes this issue impressive is how much story is weaved into the action and the conclusion without letting up on the pacing or detracting from the main thrust of the plot. All the elements work together to give readers more than a simple “the good guys win” ending.

There is a unique point London makes with the villains that’s worth noting. All too often in the modern Comics writing zeitgeist, there’s a push to make villains sympathetic or simply misunderstood. For some reason, writers seem afraid to let the evil bad guy be an evil bad guy. Here, London adds in backstory that gives readers reason to be sympathetic to at least one of the villains, but instead of leaning into the sympathy, London uses the backstory to push the villain in a surprising direction in the final moments. London isn’t writing here. London is truly focused on storytelling, and we could all use more storytellers in comics right now.

It may sound like we’re gushing over this issue (with good reason), and we are. We’re gushing because it’s rare to see a creative team invest so much into a run of this length, scale, and scope with the intention of telling an epic story that will stand the test of time. We sincerely hope to see more work of this caliber from this team and others in the near future.

Special credit goes to Camelo, Tekino, and Zapata for the excellent artwork in this issue. The action is fierce. The final moment to decide the fate of a specific character will have you on the edge of your seat. And, the overall look of this issue (and the series) is beautiful. That said, we’ve been slightly critical of the coloring in recent issues for the harshly contrasting color palette on some of the costumes. While those color choices are still present here, the colors appear to be muted to remove the harshness of the contrast, and it looks much better.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.

What’s It About?

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

To refresh yourself on the beginning of the final battle, first read our BATTLECATS (VOL. 3) #6 review.

We begin with a flashback to a time when Valadar was still a Battlecat. He enters a pub for an ale before meeting his true love for a night of happiness and romance. What Valdar doesn’t notice is the bartender slipping a drug into his drink at the request of Myrthalen, hidden nearby. The drug drives Valadar into hallucinations and rage, ending the night in bloodshed.

Now, the Path Seeker has restored Valadar’s vision of that night and Myrthalen’s treachery. Rather than give up his bid for conquest, the restored knowledge sends Valadar into a rage that only Myrthalen’s death will satisfy. Before he can strike her down, Kelthan blocks the blow and urges Valadar to remember the Lion God’s teachings against killing. Undeterred, Valadar and Kelthan begin a vicious fight over Myrthalen’s life and Valadar’s soul.

We conclude the issue with death, loss, and new beginnings.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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