Moonstar #3 – Home is The People You Love

With the collapse of the Society of the Eternal Dawn, Dani Moonstar finds herself on a new path. Having returned to her parents’ home in Colorado to process her grief and clear her mind, her peace is interrupted by the presence of surviving Society members Kian and Yanisa. They come bearing an apocalyptic-level warning. The soul-devouring sword Dainsleif has been unleashed on the world by Kyron. After Yanisa sacrifices herself for Kian and Dani’s escape, the pair seek a way to stop Kyron’s obliteration of life. Confronted by Kyron, Dani engages in a physical and psychological battle not only against Kyron but with who she used to be. The battle may change her forever as Dani finds herself interacting with the power of Dainsleif.

This review is brought to you by 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: In Moonstar #3, we get a good look at the incredible past of Dani Moonstar. With her passed out due to her fight with cursed sword Dáinsleif, Dani was in her own dreams and memories. But Dáinsleif was also in there, prying and combing through her memories. Dani is fully aware of the intrusion once she realizes what’s going on. Dáinsleif has no plans on stopping any time soon, so it’s up to Dani and her memories to fight against the cursed sword, or wake up in time to stop it. However, there’s a much more sinister plan at play that puts the people Dani loves the most in danger.

This was an emotionally driven issue that gave us a whole new appreciation for Dani’s past. Ashley Allen has does nothing but show how truly powerful Dani is, mentally and physically. Moonstar #3 proves that even when it’s her own memories of the ones she loves, used against her, Dani will not stop until she prevails. The stakes are higher than ever and Allen is intent on taking us with her on this roller coaster of mystical excitement.

Shawn: I was frustrated I had to wait a month and a half for the next issue of Moonstar, but man, does Ashley Allen know how to make the wait worth it. Dani just oozes power and confidence in this issue, and I genuinely loved it. One of the things that I’ve always appreciated about Ashley Allen as a writer is that when she takes on characters like Magik or Moonstar, she doesn’t want to erase their past but wants to help it inform the person they’ve become. That is perhaps no more evident than in Moonstar #3.

Allen writes this issue as a testament to everything that Dani has been through and what she has become. Moonstar #3 feels like Allen’s love letter to a character that has been through the fire despite finding acceptance from a family that few mutants have found, and still coming out on the other side tempered and stronger. Allen beautifully showcases not only that family relationship, but how powerful an influence it is on Dani.

Art

Megan: There’s so much to love about the artwork of Moonstar #3 thanks to Edoardo Audino, Arthur Hesli, and Clayton Cowles. With the emotions being as high as they’ve ever been, Audino perfectly captures those tones of Allen’s writing. Dani is seen feeling every bit of the emotions of her memories, whether it’s being back at the X-Mansion or in battle with the Valkyrie, and seeing the very detailed panels or Dani’s facial expressions was imperative for the comic, and Audino gave it to us perfectly. Arthur Hesli perfectly works off of Audino with his work in the colors. There’s a good amount of juxtapositions in the colors that make the focal points pop off the page. Together, the artists went out of their way to make this comic well worth the wait.

Shawn: Edoardo Audino and Arthur Hesli have been the perfect team on this series. The art could at times, give you whiplash in this issue if not handled by such skilled artisans. This issue features a lot of contrast in colors with one panel of dark muted colors followed by one full of splashes of color.

Whether a dark scene or a bright one, Edoardo Audino does such a perfect job capturing the emotion and weight of Allen’s words. You feel like you are right there in the moment with Dani, and her emotions feel like yours, all because of the quality of Audino’s art. Hesli’s colors beautifully complement the line work. The coloring on various panels featuring reflections is simply spectacular. In these panels in particular, Hesli seems to choose the perfect colors to provide a deep contrast for the scene. Clayton Cowles crafts beautiful SFX that contribute to some of the action scenes in very meaningful ways.

Final Thoughts

Megan:10/10. Ashley Allen gave us so much in Moonstar #3 that gives you a clear vision of who Dani Moonstar is as a character. What Ashley Allen writes for Dani Moonstar is powerful, incredibly complex, and a perfect look at how truly underrated she is as a character. Moonstar has already given us so much in the story, and it’s only the third issue.

Shawn: 10/10 I love a story that makes you feel like you’re climbing in the character’s skin and seeing the world through their eyes. At its core, that’s exactly what Moonstar #3 does. Allen, Audino, Hesli, and Cowles draw you in. Every letter, word, line, and color feels perfect for the story. I love that Marvel has allowed this creative team to let Dani Moonstar shine the way she has always deserved.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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