Review: AMELIA COLE #18

Amelia_Cole_18-1AMELIA COLE #18
Written by DJ Kirkbride & Adam P. Knave
Art by Nick Brokenshire
Published by Monkeybrain Comics
Release date: September 10, 2014

In the strongest issue since the loss of Captain Kubert, in volume 2, Amelia Cole takes you through an action-packed ride that ends by throwing you off a magical cliff.

After revealing the ills of her boss, fighting monsters who devour magic and forcing the hand of the evil council to reveal themselves, Amelia finally gets the showdown that has been building since issue one. Hector, has gone from protector to almost heckler of Amelia despite now being an ally in this war to save magic. Lots of loose ends are tidied up, such as the massive amount of damage that Lemmy the golem has undergone and massive amounts of magic sucking monsters roaming around, through quick spells and fast action.

At this point, there is a lot of emotional investment that will be lost on readers if they have not been following Amelia’s adventures from the beginning. That being said, Kirkbride and Knave have done a good job of sprinkling just a few lines throughout the story that provide a basic knowledge base for new readers. Brokenshire does a good job of creating layers in the action between magical offense and defense. There is also a clear use of color to show where certain magics are being used and siphoned. This overall application allows much of the art to tell the story, akin to a television action sequence.

This also speaks to one of the best features of this series: relying on audiences ability to keep up. There is a fine line that is often hard to walk in comics. Sometimes a story can walk a reader through the plot like they are children needing an English teacher to spell out the story arc. Instead, Amelia Cole assumes the reader has the ability to fit the pieces together in their heads and focuses more on action. This also allows Brokenshire to tell more story through the art.

The final turn of events in this issue also speak to a lack of pandering. Instead, it leaves readers with a new set of questions for the future of our two lead figures. Add to that the $0.99 price point and you’ve got one heck of a thrill ride that leaves you wanting to know what is across the dimensions.

The Verdict: 8.5/10

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