In SACRED SIX #12, available from Dynamite Comics on August 18th, 2021, the Supernatural Sirens fight the final battle to save Ashthorne’s residents from Leviticus and Sacred’s “holy” wrath.
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The Details
- Written By: Christopher Priest
- Art By: Marcos Ramos
- Colors By: Mohan
- Letters By: Willie Schubert
- Cover Art By: Julius Ohta (Cover B)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: August 18, 2021
Was It Good?
It must be snowing in the desert. Priest actually turned in a coherent, linear, sequential story just in time to wrap up the 12-issue arc.
I’ve been pretty harsh on Priest’s non-linear storytelling method (with good reason), so to end this arc with a readable issue that doesn’t make your head hurt trying to decipher what’s going on is already a net positive. And the story is pretty darn good. All the major threads are wrapped up somewhat neatly, we get an exciting battle set-piece, and there’s a little room for further storytelling while still feeling like this chapter’s properly closed.
Whenever a major arc ends (This could be the series end. We shall see), it’s normal to reflect on whether or not the view was worth the climb. The answer depends on your view of the Biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. The journey to Canaan took 40 years to cover a straight line distance of just over 5,000 miles. The distance wasn’t the problem, it was all the wandering and meandering that made it take so long.
The same could be said for the Sacred Six. The distance from A to B isn’t that bad. It’s all the meandering and tangents that made it take so long, so you wind up with a satisfying conclusion that costs a frequently frustrating journey. If you’re an “I only care about the destination” kind of person, this series is right up your alley. If you’re a “the journey is just as or more important than the destination” kind of person, this series may have been a tough pill to swallow.
In short, whether it was worth it or not is up to you. I’m just the world’s greatest comic book reviewer, not a mind reader.
This last issue also marks the full transition over to Marcos Ramos for the series. The art is good enough for the story to wrap up. I like Ramos’s unique hatching style that vaguely reminds me of wood cuttings. It has a bold texture that captivates the eye. That said, there were a few panels that look rushed and lacking in detail. Heavy lines don’t work well with small inset panels so the lack of detail could be a result of the artistic style or time constraints. Either way, there is a distinct inconsistency in some of the panels that throw the eye off.
In general, the art is good but inconsistency in detail and quality hurts the end result.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Before you dig into the dirty details, read our SACRED SIX #11 review to set the stage.
Vampirella, Nyx, Victory, and the entire crowd of supernatural heroes stand ready to fight Leviticus and his holy army of Sacred. Katie is the first to charge in, armed with Drakulonian tech gifted to her by Lilith.
The action is well-paced as each hero gets her bloody licks in by mowing down every soldier they can. Of course, Leviticus is the toughest nut to crack, and his satellite-guided weapons pack a punch. During the battle, Katie takes a point-blank shot that puts her down. In desperation, she lights the black candle that swaps her body out with Drakulina’s. Needless to say, everyone is shocked to see Drakulina suddenly appearing on the battlefield.
When things start to look bad for our heroes, Victory takes a gamble and teleports to Sacred for a visit with Lucy Fuhr, her adoptive mother. Victory confirms what she’s suspected for some time, that Fuhr is actually a demon and that the soldiers of Sacred have been under demonic influence and leadership for years.
Victory exposes Fuhr to the Pastor, opening his eye to the hypocrisy of Sacred’s hatred toward Ashthorne. Victory teleports herself and the Pastor to the battlefield where Pastor calls off the fight, explaining that Sacred has to clean its own house first before troubling Ashthorne any further.
We conclude the issue with an observation that some damage can’t be undone, a declaration to bring the people of Ashthorne home, and (possibly) a new mission.
Final Thoughts
SACRED SIX #12 waps up the 12-issue arc in a neat little bow. The bow is a little crooked and the edges are fraying in spots, but at least it’s done. The art is generally captivating, even if a few panels look rushed. And the ending is mostly satisfying, as long as you ignore several minor unfinished threads that are inconsequential to the end result.
Score: 8/10
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