Moonstar #2 – Never Leave Without A Soul

Free from his ancient prison, Kyron, along with the ancient sword Dainsleif, seeks to purge the world of all life. Having witnessed the sacrifice of Yanisa, Dani finds herself in search of Kyron with a standoffish Kian. Now Dani and Kian must hurry to recover an ancient relic before Kyron if there is any hope to preserve the world they know and love.

This review is a joint review from Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Ashley Allen
Artist: Edoardo Audino
Color Artist: Arthur Hesli
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Germán Peralta

Writing

Megan: Ashley Allen continues to give Dani Moonstar a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eyes glued to the pages. There’s an excellent depth that Dani has that Allen is able to bring out of her, making her so much more than just a mutant. Allen did the same when she wrote for Magik, and shows that she truly knows the characters and knows how to let them shine.

In Moonstar #2, Dani and Kian are on their way to find a way to stop the ancient warrior Kyron. Kyron has the goal of destruction with his death ritual, and it’s up to Dani and Kian to stop him from completing the ritual. This already sounds complicated, but tensions are high which makes it even more difficult. Kian is stuck in his emotions after Yanisa was killed when she sacrificed her life in order to allow Kian and Dani escape to safety. Now, Kian blames Dani for Yanisa’s death. So, Dani and Kian have to find a way to get along enough to stop Kyron or disaster will follow after he completes his death ritual.

Shawn: Ashley Allen is doing such an amazing job adding depth to Dani Moonstar’s character. Dani like many mutants, has had her share of tragedy and obstacles to overcome, but Allen is crafting Dani in a way that Dani feels wise beyond her years. It feels like a breath of fresh air, having Dani articulate the ways she has grown from her tribulations. Not only has she grown, Allen also allows her to show she recognizes the recklessness present as she was overcoming her grief and see it in others. Dani’s empathy is on full display but not in a blank check kind of way, but a way that indicates she can understand the hurt and the pain without making it her or others blind to the task at hand.

With such a unique history, Allen does an impressive job of weaving the whole of who Dani Moonstar is into this series. This is particularly evident in Issue #2. Allen has managed to work Dani’s role as a member of the X-Men, the Cheyenne Nation, and even a Valkyrie into the story in a way that feels meaningful to the story, adding to the story rather than feeling like a one-off mention. Not only does Allen do a great job with Moonstar, but she’s crafting Kian into a complex character. He is simultaneously more seasoned than Dani but still more reckless.

Art

Megan: The artwork for Moonstar #2 brings the horror factors in that match the tone of the story perfectly well. If you’re on a mission to stop a death ritual from happening, then you can be sure it’s bound to be a spooky time. Edoardo Audino, Arthur Hesli, and Clayton Cowles bring all the right notes that make this comic an absolute banger. Audino brings beautifully detailed panels that easily portray the tone of the story. Hesli is able to match muted tones with vibrancy, which really matches the tone of the horror energy very well. Cowles brings a perfect flow of dialogue throughout the story and brings emotion and power to the character’s words.

Shawn: The art for Moonstar continues to stun. Audino and Hesli continue to team up for images and colors that are so evocative and perfect for the setting. In times where Audino has set a dimly lit scene, Hesli still manages to utilize Dani or other characters to bring a pop of color to the scene, not only bringing the characters to the forefront but also adding depth.

Hesli’s colors really pop and create a drastic shift in the panels where Audino shows us the type of abilities Kian possesses. Clayton Cowles does an impressive job with lettering as well as SFX. The lettering flows well moving readers easily from panel to panel and clearly distinguishes when you are getting dialogue versus internal monologue

Final Thoughts

Megan: 9/10. I absolutely love this creative team on Moonstar. There’s no one better working on Dani Moonster’s story than them! The second issue was everything the first issue was and more. This should be on everyone’s pull list!

Shawn: 10/10 The creative team of Allen, Audino, Hesli, and Cowles crafted another amazing issue. The story adds depth to the character of Dani Moonstar that fans have needed for so long. The narrative is meaningful and heartfelt, truly feeling like the reader is coming along on a journey with Dani as she learns and grows. The last few panels of this issue had me reminding myself to breathe!

Overall Grade: 9.5/10

Are you enjoying Moonstar? Let us know in the comments below!