YUKI VS. PANDA #9, from Source Point Press on July 20th, 2022, unveils the secrets of the universe as Grandpa T-Bone tutors Yuki on the scope of her legacy and the unprecedented conflict that may spell doom for the world.
The Details
- Written By: Graham Misiurak
- Art By: A.L. Jones
- Colors By: A.L. Jones
- Letters By: A.L. Jones
- Cover Art By: A.L. Jones
- Cover Price: $2.99 (digital)
- Release Date: July 20, 2022
Is It Good?
YUKI VS. PANDA #9 is possibly the best issue in the series so far. We’ve been hard on the last several issues in the series because the basic premise – Yuki and Panda’s fight is doomed to end the world – is nowhere in sight, and whole issues appear to be focused on random world-building. Very little is explained or set up, leaving readers with occasional snatches of action to hold your attention.
Now, Misiurak lays it all out in stunning 4K resolution and clarity. Readers learn the truth behind Yuki’s prowess and possible destiny, the fateful link between her and Panda, and the inkling of an idea behind how their conflict could foretell global destruction. In short, this story is a winner because Misiurak took the time to make the story make sense.
The down point of this issue is an abrupt story shift around page twenty-four when Yuki attends a movie with her friends as Panda arrives. The transition from the previous scene comes out of nowhere, Yuki doesn’t appear to act in any way that confirms she understands the monumental news she’s been given, and her attack on Panda almost seems malicious. It’s as if the first part of the book and the last part of the book are out of order.
Jones’s art is very good. The manga influences are boldly on display, and Jones gets to flex a little comedy muscle with slapstick shenanigans from Granpad T-Bone. Comedy in comics is a difficult achievement, so Jones deserves commendation for landing a few effective sight gags.
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]
Find out what led to Grandpa and Yuki’s heart-to-heart in our YUKI VS. PANDA #8 review.
We begin with Yuki and Granpad T-Bone sitting down to a casual meal in a diner where Grandpa lays out the history of Yuki’s lineage. Yuki is born of an ancient group of warriors sworn to hold back the Darkness with Light. Grandpa’s spent years training Yuki to prepare her for this day.
That’s not all. The power to generate enough Light to confront the Dark is not created by any one warrior. Each warrior must find and partner with a spirit animal warrior to form a powerful whole greater than the sum of their parts.
We conclude the issue with Grandpa’s belief that the natural balance has been corrupted, imp influencers, and a bad time at the movie theater.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
YUKI VS. PANDA #9 is the strongest issue in the series yet because the creators take the time to provide long overdue explanations about what’s happening. The explanation feels epic enough to match the original premise, and Jones’s sight gags add an amusing bit of humor. That said, the ending scene comes out of nowhere and doesn’t match what happens in the preceding pages.
Related Information
Can a panda harm you?
Yes, a panda can severely harm or even kill or human. Don’t let their soft, cuddly exteriors fool you. A panda has sharp claws, sharp teeth, and a very powerful bite. Pandas are normally slow and docile-looking creatures, but they will attack if they feel threatened. As with any wild animal, do not approach unless you have training to interact with pandas, and even then, approach with extreme caution.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.