MONOMYTH #5, from Mad Cave Studios on 9/20/23, brings the fire (literally) in the penultimate issue when the survivors hatch a plan to cut off the stories at their source.
The Details
- Written by: David Hazan
- Art by: Cecilia Lo Valvo, Federico Bertoni
- Colors by: Marissa Louise
- Letters by: Lucas Gattoni
- Cover art by: Shane Connery Volk, Luca Romano
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: September 20, 2023
Is MONOMYTH #5 Good?
MONOMYTH #5 marks the penultimate issue in David Hazan’s urban fantasy about descendants of magical forefathers, conscripted into a death match to become the Master. Hazan’s eclectic tale is tighter and more focused now that the competitors are pared down to just four, but the esoteric nature of Hazan’s magic system may be too much for some readers to get invested.
When last we left the remaining “students,” they learned that the castle was hunting each student in a particular order until either the castle killed them all or they killed each other. The only way out is to be the last one standing. Now, Vadim, who is the next on the castle’s list, burns everything in sight, while the others conspire to destroy the library where the powers of all stories lie.
The trouble with magic-based stories is the magic itself. Readers can generally go with whatever is presented if they go in one of two directions. Don’t explain it at all except to say, “It’s magic!” and readers can fill in the blanks on their own. Or, when a story has a complete, detailed magic system, the readers will usually be content to follow the story along with the rules. When a story falls in the middle, providing some rules but remaining ambiguous and vague in others, that’s where the story can become frustrating. MONOMYTH #5 falls in that middle territory.
What’s great about MONOMYTH #5? The pacing and direction take a considerable uptick in Hazan’s script. The surviving “students” have a loose plan, and they make moves to get it done while the ticking clock of death presses on them. This issue has a greater sense of direction and purpose compared to the previous issues.
What’s not so great about MONOMYTH #5? Again, the incomplete rules of this comic’s magic are a growing point of frustration. The characters are not memorable or have a personality that allows them to stand out, even with a smaller cast. And the castle’s goal/motivation is unclear. Five issues into a series, and we still don’t know why any of this is happening.
How’s the art? Cecilia Lo Valvo and Federico Bertoni use the opportunity to give readers the most magic-filled issue so far, with power blasts, waves of fire, and now, necromancy. The visuals are relatively cool, which is a selling point. That said, two artists mean a style transition, and you definitely see a jarring shift in the art style through the last six pages of the comic.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s MONOMYTH #5 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our MONOMYTH #4 review to learn how Vadim figured out he was next on the hit list.
We begin with student A and student B arriving at the library. They believe destroying the books may destroy the castle’s power since this world’s magic is based on stories. Their spell casts fail, and they conclude they need stronger fire to burn the books, which means they need Vadim.
Elsewhere, student C finds Homunculus’s head and casts a necromancy spell to wake Homunculus up. Student C asks about the goal of the competition and how to escape, but Homunculus repeats what is already known – only the last survivor may leave.
We conclude the issue with fire, a rhyme, and a warning.
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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MONOMYTH #5 sets up what could be a climactic battle between brother and sister in the finale next month. The art’s imaginative, and the overall pacing and energy of the comic are higher, but the rules of magic are frustratingly unclear, and we still have no idea why any of this is happening.
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