NATURE’S LABYRINTH #6, from Mad Cave Studios on 8/30/23, brings the bizarre “game of death” story to a close when Jenny faces off against the island’s mastermind in a winner-takes-all duel.
The Details
- Written by: Zac Thompson
- Art by: Bayleigh Underwood
- Colors by: Warnia Sahadewa
- Letters by: Rus Wooton
- Cover art by: Filya Bratukhin
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 30, 2023
Is NATURE’S LABYRINTH #6 Good?
Well, it’s over. Zac Thompson’s surreal, often nonsensical to the extreme, disjointed, chaotic version of the Game of Death comes to a close with a surprisingly concise, clear ending. It might be a stretch to call NATURE’S LABYRINTH #6 satisfying, but at least it’s complete.
When we left the last survivors, Jenny and Nasir, Jenny fought her way through the obstacles and created at least one shortcut, forcing the Game Master to meet her personally. Meanwhile, Nasir found his way into the control center, where a frantic confrontation with a woman left her dead. Now, a wounded Jenny must fight for her life against a rested Game Master wearing exo-armor, and Nasir races to escape the wrath of a deformed son.
If that all sounds like a visit to Crazy Town, you’d be correct. However, where Zac Thompson improves over the previous issues (we suspect a nearly five-month hiatus has something to do with that) is in the focus, more than a little exposition to explain how the island came to be, a brief explanation of the island’s purpose, and clarity about the Game Master’s motivation. In other words, NATURE’S LABYRINTH #6 tries and largely succeeds in making sense of it all.
What’s great about NATURE’S LABYRINTH #6? Clarity is not only good. Clarity is king. Thompson dispenses with subplots that go nowhere and impossible booby traps that don’t make any sense to explain exactly what is going on… sorta. It’s not a terribly original explanation, but it’s better than nothing.
What’s not so great about NATURE’S LABYRINTH #6? If it wasn’t intentional, it sure looks like Thomspon had to do away with a lot of fluff and nonsense to rush through an explanation of what’s happening. In fairness, the pacing is solid, and the explanations, in and of themselves, don’t feel rushed, but Thompson falls into the “telling and not showing” trap. Even with all the rework to make the story make sense, the last scene ends on a needlessly ambiguous note to mar the satisfaction with a dusting of frustration.
How’s the art? It’s fine. Bayleigh Underwood’s style has a pleasant indie quality, with moments of darkness reminiscent of underground comics. In tone and execution, Underwood’s art matches what Thompson’s story could have been.
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What’s NATURE’S LABYRINTH #6 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our NATURE’S LABYRINTH #5 review to find out how Jenny and Nasir became the last ones standing.
We begin with a flashback to the island’s construction. Arthur, a former Black Ops agent, received private funding to build the island so criminals who escaped the law could receive true justice. Arthur draws motivation and strength from his deformed son, born with defects after his family was exposed to a toxic waste dump. Jenny now stands alone against Arthur.
Now, Billy calls for help over the comms system when Nasir escapes into the command center. Arthur races back to help Billy, leaving Jenny alone to find her own way into the facility. We conclude the issue with more one-on-one fights, a peaceful surrender, and an odd escape.
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Final Thoughts
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NATURE’S LABYRINTH #6 ends the bizarre series with a surprisingly un-bizarre conclusion. Thompson offers a copious amount of flashbacks and exposition to make it all make sense for a reasonably complete, albeit unsatisfying, finale.
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