Moonstar #5 – The Star That Marks The End of Darkness

The end is here! Dani Moonstar, having taken down a cult, now finds herself trying to prevent the end of the world. With Kyron free, Dani must work to prevent him from using a mystical sword to drain all life from the world. Realizing Kyron was trying to track down her parents after touching the sword, she races to their rescue. Now in the forest with Kyron, her parents, and Kian, the ritual begins, and Dani must try to save the world.

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: We’ve arrived at the end of a comic run that can only be described as outstanding! Ashley Allen has put her all into this run, and it shows brightly. Dani Moonstar has finally gotten the solo run she deserves, and I’m so sad to see it come to an end. Allen gives us an incredible ending that highlights the roots of who Dani is to her core. She’s much more than a Valkyrie; she’s more than a mutant, and she’s someone who cherishes her Cheyenne roots and proves that when she uses who she is to her strengths.

Shawn: What power! What poise. I’m so sad to see Moonstar come to an end, but what a run from Ashley Allen. If you’re not convinced that Allen should be on an ongoing title at this point, then I’m not sure what more proof it would take to change your mind. Moonstar #5 takes a powerful yet underutilized character and brings her full circle. Dani has been through so much and has come so far, yet it’s only in this issue that we finally see not only how far she’s truly come but how much she truly understands her own journey.

Dani has been many things throughout her story, and Allen uses those beautifully. She’s Cheyenne, she’s a Valkyrie, and she’s a mutant, but beyond all that, she is powerful as herself. This issue was filled with so many wall-worthy quotes as Allen wrapped up the story. I truly hate that we are having to say goodbye to Dani for now because this series has been amazing. The epilogue cameo was a nice touch.

Art

Megan: What can I say about the creative team that hasn’t already been said? How incredible Edoardo Audino’s linework is? How Arthur Hesli uses his artistic abilities to make each page an absolute masterpiece when he handles the colors? Or how Clayton Cowles captures the power of Dani’s words and illustrates it through the dialogue, making the reader feel every bit of Dani’s power? This creative team has done incredible things and has brought the fantastic run to a very satisfying close. They deserve all their flowers!

Shawn: Beyond just an amazing and complete story, I’m sad to see Moonstar end because the team of Edoardo Audino and Arthur Hesli has been just phenomenal on this entire run. Audino has drawn this series to perfection. He’s managed to capture a look in Dani that is both distinct yet recognizable. You can feel emotions flying off of Dani when she’s at the forefront of the panel. Panels where Dani stands alone within the panel are particularly impactful because of just how well Audino portrays her emotions.

Not to be outdone, Arthur Hesli does an award-worthy job on colors. Because of how Moonstar #5 plays out, Hesli has to be all over the place with his color palette. He uses that to his advantage, with the shades feeling even darker and the bright white of Brightwind feeling even brighter. Clayton Cowles masterfully helps readers traverse the variety of voices in this issue, from Dani to the sword to conversation between characters.

Final Thoughts

Megan: 10/10. Moonstar #5 brings the wildly good comic series to a satisfying close. I honestly could have read dozens and dozens of issues of this run, so I’m sad to see this come to an end. Ashley Allen was consistent in the impossibly high quality of this run, and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Shawn: 10/10. This is the series Dani Moonstar has deserved for so long. This creative team has had their foot on the gas since the very first issue, and I would love to see them together again. The story is meaningful, fresh, and beautiful.

Overall Grade: 10/10

Are you sad to see Moonstar end? Let us know in the comments