NYX #9, from Dynamite Comics on August 24th, 2022, sets up the most bizarre family reunion in history when Nyx finds out Mad God Chaos has been taking his children out on unscheduled field trips.
The Details
- Written by: Christos Gage
- Art by: Marc Borstel
- Colors by: Jordi Escuin Llorach
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Giuseppe Matteoni (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 24, 2022
Is It Good?
NYX #9 revs up the momentum in this penultimate issue as Nyx finds out Mad God chaos has been fudging on his deal to stay out of child-rearing so that he can accelerate his children’s development into instruments of death and destruction. Out of choices and time, Nyx hatches a desperate plan to end the drama – one way or another.
Whew! That sounds like a lot of big talk, but what this issue does is jettison the wit and black humor in favor of a build-up to a big finale battle next month. However, this issue isn’t all setup. Gage works in a plethora of cathartic moments as Nyx is forced to accept the reality of growing up unloved, witnessing how love (or lack thereof) affects a child as they transition from child to teenager, and distills the observation into a moment of self-reflection for Nyx that guides the choices she makes after. The tone here is a significant departure from every prior issue, but it’s a strong emotional piece that fits where the story is headed.
Borstel’s art in this issue is largely positive with a few weak spots.
Borstel has a strong eye for character design and panel composition. Each child is memorable with a distinctive look, and the fights, when they happen, crackle with energy.
That said, there is a flatness to the conversation scenes. The art sometimes looks like the work of a design illustrator rather than a classic comic artist, and you can see it in how the characters look pasted on top of panels rather than integrated into the scene. Except for a very few spots, there are no action lines or signs of movement, so the panels tend to look like posed snapshots rather than action in progress. The structure of each panel looks good, but the energy is lacking.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Catch up on the result of Nyx’s parenting skills and the consequences of children with too much power in our NYX #8 review.
We begin with Mad God Chaos and one of his children under Nyx’s care, Tunrida, as they lay waste to a realm of elves and their god. Tunrida is dazed by the bloodlust of her killing but soon snaps out of it to be horrified by what she’s done. Nyx arrives to retrieve Tunrida and scolds Mad God Chaos for his interference in Tunrida’s upbringing.
Later, Nyx brings Tunrida back to her time and adoptive parents, but she concludes Chaos will only keep interfering until all the children become genocidal demons like him. With little choice, Nyx hatches a plan to achieve freedom for her and her siblings or die trying.
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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NYX #9 is a more serious and dramatic issue for the series that contains a genuine heart for the siblings and strong emotion from Nyx. The issue sets up all the players for the big finale next month with plenty of emotional motivation, but the generally-sound art lacks energy.
Related Information
Who is Nyx in Marvel?
In Marvel, Nyx is the goddess of Darkness, born before the creation of Zeus and the Greek gods of Olympus.
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