Which is more important … trust or survival?
Creative Staff:
Writer: Joe Brusha
Artwork: Sergio Ariño
Colors: Maxflan Araujo
Letters: Taylor Esposito
What They Say:
As the clock ticks down to zero on the human race, Blaire Spencer is able to complete her mission and deliver the vampire Xavier Drake to her team of scientists. Unfortunately, she had to leave her team to certain death to do it. Now Spencer must choose between saving her friends, or the fate of humanity itself. Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to Monster Planet!
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
With time running out after Karl collapsed from the effects of the virus, Blaire and Xavier have little choice than to leave their companions behind and make a race for humanity’s best hope for survival – a base outside Pittsburgh fittingly called Iron Mountain. As the pair roars through the gates on motorcycle, they are immediately met by the facility’s commander who commends his soldier on her arduous journey and bringing the target back safely intact. However this unyielding man will not listen to either pleas for haste, with the promise of returning soon with a cure being the only reason why the vampire lord followed this course of action, permitting the leader to coldly state sacrifices are necessary for the greater good. It was only then does Drake reveal his back up plan if negotiations went awry – a silver nitrate bomb which he is willing to trigger if they do not listen to his ultimatum, instantly killing him and rendering any chance for a remedy effectively nullified. With Spencer backing up his threat, this callous leader se no other choice than to give into their demands, escorting the group to the laboratory with his men following close behind.
However as their leaders valiantly struggle to bring back a treatment, both humans and monsters make their last stand against the bandits on Mackinac Island, with Cutter taking stock of their limited supplies and grimly stating they would be lucky to hold out of an hour, allowing Eva to somberly reply it will take longer than that for their saviors to return. It is only then does Garcia inform then the enemy is quickly approaching, lead by their former comrade turned traitor Carver, with both knowing with his help any of their prior strategies will be of little use due to his familiarity with military procedures. But as the defenders heroically attempt to fight a losing battle and the turncoat savors his impending victory, the tide of battle is suddenly upended thanks to the rumble of several inhuman feet shaking the ground in a savage charge. The overconfident marauders can do little against the viciousness of endless impacts of fang and claw, ruthlessly tearing apart their tender bodies as the sentries watch in macabre fascination, knowing they will be next once the feeding frenzy is over. Thinking the underground tunnels may be their only option to avoid the same bloody massacre, Cutter and Garcia lead the way into the subterranean area, only to be greeted by a bestial howl which Eva immediately recognized as Karl’s, but his appearance was suddenly undergoing a terrifying change, one in which no one wished to see at this imminent time of crisis.
In Summary:
As this surprising title comes to a meaningful ending, writer Joe Brusha has surpassed my expectations of what I initially assumed would be a formulaic tale of enemies being forced to cooperate for a common cause, instead turning the narrative into one of heartfelt sympathy for those who have been wronged and the empathetic trust one engenders after understanding their sorrowful plight. This would have seemed impossible before witnessing how Eva was treated on Monster Island, but as Spencer begins to fully comprehend her loathing toward humans, one can only wonder if our restraint could have been as admirable as this beautiful vampire’s. She is the true linchpin for the group, and no matter how much Drake may try to rein in his sister, you can truly feel the depth her hatred and how it has fueled the suspicion she has for anyone who has not undergone the same torment as others of her kind. This awareness makes winning her over as an ally paramount to the essence of the story, allowing to see past her past trauma and finally believe some are worthy of her trust, all while respecting her as someone who stands by their morals no matter how much others may question them; and yet it is ironic in this series that those same humans who have sought these monster’s help still fear their differences, so much so that they are willing to provoke their wrath from two different fronts: those who are chained to old beliefs and see them only as abominations which need to be exterminated and those who present themselves as allies, only to be restrained by those same prejudices and then utilizing them as tools to save themselves. In the end one cannot but commend these so called monsters for being more benevolent than the ones who hunt them, showing compassion for justifiably defending themselves and allying for a cause which will not directly benefit themselves, all due to the exceptional humanity they show to save their enemies … since it is the right thing to do.
All thorough out this stunning series we cannot but be enthralled by the captivating illustrations of Sergio Ariño, his conclusive ability to clearly reflect the breathtaking convictions of each character and yet show true humanity within those who should have center stage of the story – the monsters. And while I may have objected to some of his darker shading techniques, one cannot deny his ability to weave fantastically detailed depictions of unique actors, each able to display their distinct personalities within the frenetic atmosphere of trying to survive, all while granting us a primally satisfying conclusion as we watch the true villains succumb to a grisly defeat. However none of his images would have such a resounding impact without Maxflan Araujo’s memorable selection of grounding tones, making the action all the more intense and the calming scenes leading into them that much more powerful. Although some of the panels have an odd dulling overcast, the essential pages stand out thanks to striking applications of light and dark tones, making them visually appealing and adding a depth which makes the cruelty almost jump out with all the ferocity of the beasts which are contained therein. This melodic synergy of line and color almost makes us forget this is a two dimensional medium, with the smooth transition between scenes reminiscent of an epic blockbuster action film which we hope will never end, continuously building the tension and intensity bit by bit, until it explodes into an ending that we sincerely relish as we witness our heroes receive the peace they deserve from the chaos of finality.
The meaning of Monster Planet becomes highly ironic within this finale, with the title having duo insinuations: creatures taking over to change the main inhabitants of the world and after the cure is found, an implication of who will be the true survivors, giving us a bittersweet irony when they fought so hard to save humanity. And yet the two prominent characters who present opposing sides of the argument – Blair and Eva, are so beautifully dominant one cannot but see clarity within both sides of the conflict, with each echoing a beneficial viewpoint within a complex dilemma. Through beautifully depicted artwork and enticing selection of colors we are carelessly dive into this courageous world, allowing us to forget the truth behind the battle for just minute, all while making us question who are the true monsters with this series. And while there we a few missteps within the series, one cannot deny this story was a refreshing departure from our stereotypical tale of good versus bad, with the reader constantly guessing which side we should be on and whether it truly deserves to survive in the end.
Grade: A-
Series Grade: A-
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: April 22, 2020
MSRP: $3.99
