THE MOON MAID: THE THREE KEYS #3 – An Honest Review

THE MOON MAID: THE THREE KEYS #3, available from American Mythology on May 26th, 2021, sets up the final battle for Groethe against the invading Kalkars.

The Details

• Written By: Mike Wolfer
• Art By: Miriana Puglia
• Colors By: Beezzz Studio
• Letters By: Natalie Jane
• Cover Art By: Miriana Puglia
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: May 26, 2021

Was It Good?

Yes, it was good. A little rushed, but still very entertaining.

In the first issue of the series, we got a lot of foundational work to establish the worlds, the species, and the dynamics of their conflicts. That was a great setup issue.

The second issue was good but it raised some concerns spending a lot of time digging into the depths of mistrust between the Va-gas and the U-gas. When you spend so much time on two species with a troubled past debating the past, it slows the pace and led us to be concerned the third (and final) issue would rush to reveal all the secrets and get to the big finale. That prediction was mostly correct.

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While there is a fair bit of rushing to reveal the secret of Groethe AND have a big finale fight AND come to some resolution, it was still an enjoyable issue. Lots of cool moments in the writing and the art, Groethe’s big secret reveal has bigger implications for the future, and the resolution for the big battle changes the power dynamic for this world.

That said, rushing to get to the conclusion in the allowed number of pages loses some of the weight of what’s happening because you don’t get a full sense of stakes until the story is already over. It’s a valid creative choice but we feel it was a less effective one. If Groethe’s big secret had been revealed in the second issue, the importance of the big battle against the Kalkars would have been higher.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

We pick up after the events of the last issue with Loh-ee-nah (Loh for short) whispering the secret of Groethe to the only female Va-ga of the group, Voh-nay.

If you’re wondering about Voh-nay and what on Earth (err… the Moon) we’re talking about, read our THE MOON MAID: THE THREE KEYS #2 review to get caught up.

Voh-nay and Loh convince the remaining Va-gas to fight with them against the Kalkars for the protection of Groethe, again, without revealing its secret. They agree based on some respect for Loh and their loyalty to Voh-nay.

What follows is a weapon and defense montage preparing all the weaponry at Groethe’s disposal. They gather native plants that give off a toxic mist. They load cannons that shoot barrages of poisoned darts. And they bolster the defensive walls.

The Kalkars begin their attack but they’re outgunned and outmatched by Groethe’s superior firepower. However, the Kalkars return with tricks of their own in the second wave carrying homemade firebombs.

Eventually, the fight degenerates into sword-to-sword combat… until Loh sees a special atmospheric event beginning.

Loh recognizes a weather event beginning similar to the one that wiped out most of Groethe’s citizens when she was a child. When a solar eclipse occurs, it generates a vicious electromagnetic storm that sweeps everyone away who hasn’t found shelter. During the fight, Loh and Voh-nay make it to a secret vault that Loh opens with three keys (hence, the title), and they shut themselves inside to hide from the massive storm

We conclude the issue with the end to one conflict and the beginning of something more.

How Does It End?

The U-gas and Va-gas have something greater to fight for together. Loh comes from a long line of guardians. Knowledge is power.

Final Thoughts

THE MOON MAID: THE THREE KEYS #3 ties up all the loose ends for a complete, entertaining, and largely satisfying story. The art is great, and although there was a little too much to pack into one issue, this was a satisfying series overall.

Score: 7.5/10