WOLVENHEART #12, from Mad Cave Studios on March 16th, 2022, puts Sterling and the team on the hunt for the Philosopher’s Stone to prevent Van Helsing from reshaping reality.
The Details
- Written By: Mark London
- Art By: Alejandro Giraldo
- Colors By: Warnia Sahadewa
- Letters By: Miguel A. Zapata
- Cover Art By: Alejandro Giraldo
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: March 16, 2022
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Was It Good?
WOLVENHEART #12 is a speedy, high-paced, action-filled development in the ongoing saga of Wolvenheart’s quest to stop Van Helsing from resurrecting his lost love by sacrificing the natural order of the Universe. How’s that for a mouthful?
Yes, this is a good issue BECAUSE it packs a healthy amount of plot development while zipping by at a hare’s pace. London has come a long way in tightening up the focus of each issue and peppering in backstory scenes that tell what they need to do as quickly as possible. The net result is an issue that has an important battle with consequential outcomes that don’t miss a beat and a flashback that informs the relationship between the characters without distracting the focus.
The plot of this issue is a culmination of the setup building up over the last few issues. Everyone converges on the location of the Philosopher’s Stone. Rasputin’s diabolical tricks are revealed. We learn the source of the mysterious voices plaguing Joan of Arc. And, a significant battle takes place with potentially serious consequences. All this and a flashback to Romeo & Juliet’s origins (hint: it’s not what you think). That’s a lot of meat on this particular bone, and London pulls it off with a silky smooth flow and a lightning-fast pace.
The art by Giraldo and Sahadewa is generally very good. The action is well-choreographed, and the panel compositions generate plenty of dramatic effect. That said, the characters do come off a bit stiff (something we’ve noted in previous reviews), and Sahadewa’s colors tend to look washed out with an excessive amount of earth tones. It’s not bad art, but a few tweaks would turn the visuals from good to great.
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]
If you don’t recall why Wolvenheart and Van Helsing are vying for the Philosopher’s Stone, first read our WOLVENHEART #11 review.
We begin with a scene in a garden long ago where Romeo and Juliet declare their undying love for each other… before killing themselves. Before they breathe their last, Batohey teleports to the scene with William Shakespeare for artistic inspiration and to recruit new soldiers into Wolvenheart.
Now, Sterling and the team arrive at the location of the Philosopher’s Stone to snatch it up before Van Helsing can get it. As the team begins their stealthy entrance, Joan of Arc is assaulted by a painful voice in her mind urging her forward. When the team enters the chamber, they find the worst-case scenario.
We conclude the issue with mind control, creative weapons, and spilled blood.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
WOLVENHEART #12 is an excellent read with plenty of story development, helpful backstory, and brilliant pacing. That said, the art is good but it lacks pop.
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