MORNING STAR #3 – New Comic Review

MORNING STAR #3, by Mad Cave Studios on 6/12/24, continues Jolene and Marabeth’s search for Charlie in the woods, but their hope turns to fear when they encounter ghostly specters bringing words of warning.

Credits:

• Writer: DB Andry, Tim Daniel
• Artist: Marco Finnegan
• Colorist: Jason Wordie
• Letterer: Justin Birch
• Cover Artist: Marco Finnegan
• Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
• Release Date: June 12, 2024
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 3o
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

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Analysis of MORNING STAR #3:

Plot Analysis:

Things are getting creepy for the Garrett family for the Garrett family in DB Andry and Tim Daniel’s latest chapter about love, loss, grief, and the call of the supernatural (maybe) in Morning Star #3. We’re not sure what’s going on, but Twilight Zone fans will probably get a kick out of the journey.

When last we left Jolene Garrett and her daughter Marabeth in Morning Star #2, their morning turned from restless to frantic when they realized Charlie was missing. Jolene and Marabeth split up to search the tower, surrounding property, and the nearby woods. The issue ended with Marabeth encountering a strange deer.

In Morning Star #3, the search continues, but Jolene and Marabeth separately find more than they expected. We begin with Jolene checking and double-checking every corner and pile of blankets in case Charlie returns to the cabin and decides to hide as a prank. Suddenly, Jolene is confronted by a ghostly specter in the form of a fire jumper with a flaming head saying Charlie’s name. The specter disappears when Jolene pelts it with a nearby book.

Nearby, Marabeth encounters what looks like an abandoned cabin in the woods. Thinking Charlie might be hiding inside, Marabeth breaks into the cabin and searches to no avail. Marabeth is then startled by a ringing phone, and when she picks up the receiver, she hears a spectral voice saying her name. She’s snapped out of the moment by a sudden rush of forest critters bolting from their hiding places in the cabin and running for the door.

Marabeth runs outside and is confronted by a specter in the shape of a forest ranger with a face darkened by shadow. The ranger tells Marabeth to let go of her suffering, and that her efforts won’t bring her father back.

Back at the Garrett cabin, Jolene is struck by a memory of a private talk between her and her husband, Nathan. They talk about his job as a fire jumper and how the risks he takes are part of who he is. They also discuss Charlie’s daredevil antics with a mix of pride and trepidation.

Back to now, Jolene thinks she catches a glimpse of Charlie’s silhouette and follows him into the woods. She soon finds herself surrounded by several spectral versions of Charlie asking for help.

the issue ends as Marabeth runs away from the abandoned cabin and the ghostly park ranger. She trips and tumbles down an embankment into the nearby stream. When she crawls out of the water on the opposite side, she finds the glowing tangle of men from the first issue.

Character Development:

Jolene and Marabeth are technically the only characters in this issue, but the lion’s share of acting and emotional weight rests with Jolene. The stress of losing Charlie manifests in Jolene when she quietly prays to her husband for help. Feeling lost within herself and still grieving her husband, you can’t help but empathize with Jolene in a moment of despair.

Artwork and Presentation:

Marco Finnegan gives readers a healthy dose of realism in the sets, costumes, and sets mixed with ethereal ghosts and visions that appear as terrifying hallucinations. If the idea was to give readers the unsettling confusion of not knowing what is and isn’t real, mission accomplished.

That said, some of the darker scenes, such as Marabeth exploring a darkened cabin, are too dark and loosely defined to make out. Stylistic choices can be a good thing but never at the expense of clarity.

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Pacing and Structure:

Andry and Daniel employ quick cuts within each scene to reflect Jolene and Marabeth’s heightened feelings of paranoia and fear that someone or something is right behind them or around the corner. That tension takes a moderately-paced comic up a few notches in the engagement department, so the slower pace isn’t noticeable.

In terms of plot and structure, we still have no idea what’s going on, who the specters are, what happened to Nathan and Charlie Garrett, or where this story is headed. At best, you could say this story is loaded with weird atmosphere, strange developments, and tension. For some readers, that may be enough.

Thematic Exploration:

So far, this series doesn’t have a traditional theme but a conflict of emotions. Putting aside the supernatural aspects (because we don’t understand them anyway), the emotional core of the story is a constant push-pull between despair and moving on. The whole point of coming out to the woods for Jolene and her kids was to accept and let go of Nathan Garrett. The (Mystical? Supernatural? Alien?) events taking place serve to push them back into those feelings of despair. Which emotion will win is anyone’s guess.

Final Thoughts:

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MORNING STAR #3 continues the search for Charlie, but Jolene and Marabeth’s efforts are hindered (helped?) by ghostly specters delivering pleas and warnings. Andry and Daniel’s moderately-paced script packs in tons of atmosphere and mood from weird developments, buoyed by Finnegan’s shadowy art. However, the plot is more weird than clear, and the shadowy art sometimes gets muddled.

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