In THE DARK AGE #7, available from Red 5 Comics on July 21st, 2021, Jonnie’s sacrifice leads to a discovery about the origin of the aliens and what they intend for the children of Earth.
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The Details
- Written By: Don Handfield
- Art By: Pop Mhan
- Colors By: Dijjo Lima
- Letters By: D.C. Hopkins
- Cover Art By: Nicholas Ely
- Cover Price: $3.95
- Release Date: July 21, 2021
Was It Good?
This is the last issue in the series, so we quantify “good” on two fronts. 1) Is it a good story? and 2) Did it conclude the arc in a satisfying way?
The answer to both questions is ‘yes’.
One of the things you’ll notice right off is how fast the issue moves. The pacing is exceptionally high, and you get a lot of story and a lot of answers very quickly. Thankfully, the high pace doesn’t equate to feeling like the story is rushed. This issue is a good example of excellent pacing.
Pacing aside, everything about this issue works toward answering the lingering questions. Who are the aliens? Why are they here? Why do children feel called to them? Etc. etc.
When the answers come, they feel organic and clear as the character interactions unfold throughout the issue. The big reveal feels like a mystery twist right out of Star Trek: The Next Generation. I like the answers, and it makes sense in a big picture sort of way.
To be fair, there might be one or two threads left dangling, but none big enough to have any material impact on the end of the story. This was a satisfying conclusion to the story.
As for the art, pencils/inks had to be handed off from Rodrigues to Mhan so we were expecting a shift in the style and quality. In truth, we didn’t detect any change big enough to cause concern. Mhan’s linework is excellent, especially during the scenes on the alien ship, and the art felt like it belonged in a top-quality comic.
In short, this issue was fast-paced without feeling rushed, and it answered all the questions to bring the arc to a satisfying close.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Before you read another word, check out our THE DARK AGE #6 review.
Jonnie wakes up on the alien ship but she’s completely paralyzed by the technology that brought her aboard. One of the aliens enters the chamber and puts her to sleep while he examines her. A few panels later, it appears the alien is performing some sort of surgery on Jonnie.
In the village below, the Emporer orders an autopsy on the dead alien from the previous battle to find out what makes it tick. What the doctor discovers is the alien, while strange-looking, is mostly human. The realization doesn’t change any minds and the humans make plans to destroy the alien ship when it surfaces again.
Before the attack plans can be complete, the alien ship rises out of the water and opens up. Jonnie walks out, accompanied by the alien that operated on her. The operation cured Jonnie’s terminal illness. In return, Jonnie agreed to help end the conflict by explaining the aliens are here simply to survive.
The big explanation is pretty clear, but we won’t spoil it here. Suffice to say they use a Noah’s Ark explanation that forces everyone to re-think the whole origin of humanity.
Final Thoughts
THE DARK AGE #7 wraps up the series with a newfound appreciation of Earth’s past and hopeful signs for a bright future… when we’re ready. The writing is breakneck quick, and the art, despite a transition in the art team from the previous issues, doesn’t miss a beat.
Score: 9/10
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