FREE PLANET #12 (IMAGE COMICS)

The price of Lutheria’s freedom is going to cost its’ Freedom Guard.

Tensions have been high on the newly free planet. This weighs heavy on the planet’s last line of defense. Events have amped up to an all time high with a crippling embargo in place.

Hope has appeared in the form of a rich asteroid. The Guard wants this at all cost. What are they willing to give up to get it?

FREE PLANET #12 by Aubrey Sitterson, Jed Dougherty, Vittorio Astone and Taylor Esposito (Image Comics) shows another unique look at the challenges of being free.

Let’s take a closer look into this chapter.

FREE PLANET #12 by Aubrey Sitterson, Jed Dougherty, Vittorio Astone and Taylor Esposito (Image Comics)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Sitterson opens with a direct attempt by the Guard onto the Asteriod. The writing immediately establishes the value of the space rock and what it means to the Guard. Trouble doesn’t wait long to arrive. Other parties have a vested interest as well. The writing doesn’t shy away form the fight for its’ control. Events don’t take long to explode. The Jianault family wants the asteriod as its’ own. Conflict is brief but unforgiving in presentation.

The same can be said for Keen’s talk with the Surroko War Chief. Their talk escalates quickly in violence. Readers watch as the tide slips further away from Keen. Another guard member is forced out his comfort zone in this skirmish. The writing shows the ferocity of battle. It holds little back. Keen’s course takes a new turn in the wake of this conflict. It allows the story room to grow with the brief escape of the overall battle. Once it returns for the final act, a new dynamic of the team is on display. How the final page goes over will be one for the ages.

READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!

Dougherty and Astone throw another unique look at the pages for this chapter. Going sideways for presentation is very different but refreshing to see. The guard’s initial outing is met with opposition. The Jianault explorer gets a full entrance as the side pages are all full splashes. This carries into Keen’s solo standoff with the War Chief. Their opposing stances cap off the full page treatments. The back and forth can become a but hectic at times, but still a worthy attempt.

Another member of the Guard steps in to fight. The full page combat is ruthless in display. It mirrors the gravity weighing down the situation at hand. The art team sneaks in a few violent shots before the fight officially ends. It serves as a good break before ramping back up on the Asteroid fight. There’s no shying away on the sacrifices being made in this portion. A stoic two page spread leads to closing out this chapter. It is upstaged by one of the wilder full page visions you will see in this series. Someone’s got some explaining to do next issue.

FINAL GRADE: 8.2

The Guard lays it on the line for a game-changing acquisition. Sitterson leans heavy into the savage fight for survival in the writing. Dougherty and Astoneleave nothing off limits for where this story goes. Just wait for what happens on the last page…..never a dull moment in the age of Lutheria.

Let me know your thoughts on Free Planet #12 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!