THE MADNESS #6, by AWA Studios on 1/10/24, brings the rage-filled superhero story to a close when Sarah faces off against the Council’s last and strongest supers.
The Details
- Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
- Art by: ACO, David Lorenzo
- Colors by: Marcelo Maiolo
- Letters by: Sal Cipriano
- Cover art by: ACO (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: January 10, 2024
Is THE MADNESS #6 Good?
If you’re going to go out, go out with a bang. J. Michael Straczynski knows that rule all too well because you get as big a bang as you could get to end the mini-series in THE MADNESS #6. The most dangerous person in the world is one who has nothing to lose.
When last we left Sarah/Raven, she defeated the Council of Justice’s B team. Killing Djinn also meant assuming control of Djinn’s dragon, which gave Sarah a powerful upgrade. Now, the last and most powerful heroes left on the Council, Darius and Micron, decide to go on the offensive and attack Sarah in her home, ending a battle where nobody walks away unscathed.
Beyond the inevitable climactic battle, Straczynski introduces a twist concerning the Sarah/Raven relationship and the origin of their power. It’s not what you think. We won’t spoil whether or not Sarah survives, but if Straczynski returns to this world, the seeds have been planted to explore more stories.
What’s great about THE MADNESS #6? For once, the uber-powerful Sarah/Raven meets her match in Darius and Micron, but Straczynski finds a way for Sarah to get her revenge at a steep cost. Again, the highlight of this series is the raw emotion that drives the protagonist on a revenge quest, and that drive carries through to the very end.
What’s not so great about THE MADNESS #6? The way Sarah/Raven deals with her attackers involves the use of a deus ex machina that some readers may find a little too predictable. There’s a certain irony in Sarah/Raven’s solution, but it comes out of nowhere.
How’s the art? ACO’s art is fantastic. When the big moment hits, ACO employs an incredibly effective technique to slow down time so you get a visual collage of an entire scene that takes place in less than a blink of an eye. ACO did a stellar job with this mini-series.
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What’s THE MADNESS #6 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our THE MADNESS #5 review to find out how Sarah acquired a dragon.
We begin with Sarah setting Ignatius the dragon free as her last act of charity before the final fight she knows is coming. Sarah repeats the conversation with Raven after Sarah realizes Raven is not actually an outward manifestation of her psyche but something else. Knowing what’s coming, Sarah and Raven part ways so that at least one of them will survive.
Later, Darius and Micron review their surveillance footage to confirm Sarah is hanging out at her home. They decide to launch an attack as a pre-emptive strike. Unfortunately for the two surviving members of the Council, Sarah is prepared.
We conclude the issue with a bloody beatdown, a big bang, and a prologue.
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Final Thoughts
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THE MADNESS #6 ends the mini-series as strongly as it started, with strong emotional beats, big bangs, and a fitting conclusion. Straczynski’s tale of a superpowered thief on a revenge quest is a treat from start to finish, and ACO’s art packs a punch. If it isn’t already, this series should be on your Best of 2023 list.
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