IS TED OK? #6 (Mad Cave Studios)
This weird fever dream of a story comes to a conclusion that is truly fitting for this story. As Noah takes his final form to try and control the universe, the only being that can stop him is Ted. But even with the help and support of Sarah and Christina, can Ted overcome Noah and ruin his plans of universe domination? Either way you know this will be a crazy and out of this world ride.
Is Ted Ok? #6 – Written, Art, & Letters By Dave Chisholm - Edited By Ryan Carroll -Published ByMad Cave Studios
Credit: Mad Cave Studios
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
STORY OVERVIEW:
Ted wakes up in what he’s told is hell by a person named Kim. But he snaps back into his body just in time to save Brody from almost certain death. But even though they have all survived the crash, it is revealed that Noah has now taken a superhuman form and is hovering in the sky. Christina gets his ire right away by revealing that she knows how he has accomplished this form. This angers Noah greatly and he yeets her out into the desert. Thankfully Ted can also fly, which is the only reason Christina lives. She then comes up with a plan for them to defeat Noah. Ted will distract Noah well, she tries to find her nephew who she assumes Noah is using as a surrogate body, and Sarah will be there to support in any way she can. As our team makes their final stand, will they be able to stop Noah and win the day or will the universe be doomed to be ruled under the iron fist of Noah? Either way nothing will prepare you for the emotions you will feel at the end of this one.
WRITING:
When you have a fever dream of a story like Is Ted OK?, you know the finale has to swing big, get weird, and somehow still find a way to land emotionally. Thankfully, Dave Chisholm does not disappoint in this final issue of the series. He takes the strange, wacky, and unpredictable energy that has defined the book from the beginning and pushes it even further, making this ending feel appropriately massive without losing the oddball personality that made the series stand out in the first place. Noah’s superhuman form immediately raises the stakes, turning him from an already dangerous presence into something that feels almost impossible to defeat. His new form makes the reader question whether Ted, Sarah, and Christina have any real chance of stopping him, especially with the threat feeling so overwhelming and cosmic in scale. That sense of danger works because it does not simply exist for spectacle; it gives the finale the kind of pressure it needs, making every decision from the heroes feel more desperate and important.
What makes Chisholm’s approach so effective is the way he finds a believable weakness inside something that initially feels unbeatable. Noah’s downfall does not come from a random trick or an easy last-minute solution; it comes from a flaw that has been baked into who he is. His ego becomes the opening the heroes need, and that choice makes perfect sense within the larger context of the story. Much like Achilles and his heel, Noah’s greatest weakness is tied directly to the thing that makes him so dangerous in the first place. That gives the climax a satisfying logic, because the heroes are not just overpowering him; they are understanding him well enough to exploit the one part of himself he cannot protect.
Even with all of the bizarre science fiction chaos, the emotional core of the issue is what makes the finale hit as hard as it does. The friendship between Sarah and Ted has been one of the strongest parts of the series, and this final chapter makes that relationship feel meaningful, earned, and heartbreaking. Ted’s willingness to sacrifice himself because of the only true friendship he has ever known is both beautiful and deeply sad. It gives the issue a sense of tragedy, but also a sense of purpose, because his final actions are rooted in love, loyalty, and the need to give Sarah something she has been missing. The reveal that Sarah’s narration has been a text message to Ted the whole time adds another layer of sadness to the ending, reframing the story as something more personal and intimate than it first appeared. It is a clever and emotionally devastating choice that allows Chisholm to end the series with both surprise and sincerity. For a comic that has spent so much time being strange, funny, and completely unpredictable, the fact that it closes on such a heartfelt note is what makes the ending truly memorable.
ARTWORK:
The art in this final issue is just as amazing, strange, and completely unique as it has been throughout the entire run, but here it feels even bigger and more unrestrained because Chisholm is bringing everything to its conclusion. Dave Chisholm does not just take big chances with the storytelling; he takes equally bold swings with the visual language of the book, making every page feel unpredictable and alive. The world still has that futuristic quality to it, but it also feels like something pulled directly out of a fever dream, where technology, body horror, cosmic imagery, and surreal comedy all collide on the same page. That combination works because the visuals are not strange simply for the sake of being strange. They reflect the mental and emotional chaos the characters are experiencing, especially as Ted, Sarah, and Christina face something that feels much larger than themselves. In that way, the setting and imagery become an extension of the characters’ fear, confusion, desperation, and determination.
The character designs continue to be one of the strongest parts of the issue because they fully embrace the weirdness of the story without ever feeling random. Noah’s final form, in particular, has the kind of exaggerated, unsettling presence that immediately communicates how dangerous he has become. At the same time, Ted’s design still carries a vulnerability that keeps him grounded, even when the story is operating on this massive, cosmic level. Chisholm also makes excellent use of facial expressions and body language, allowing the emotions of the characters to cut through all of the wild science fiction spectacle. Sarah’s concern, Ted’s uncertainty, Christina’s urgency, and Noah’s arrogance are all easy to read because the artwork gives each character a clear emotional identity.
The backgrounds and color choices are just as important to the issue’s impact. The off-kilter layouts and bizarre environments keep the reader slightly unbalanced, which fits perfectly with a story where it is never completely clear how much of what is happening is real, imagined, symbolic, or some impossible mixture of all three. Chisholm’s colors help guide the reader through that chaos by setting the emotional temperature of each scene. The shifts in color can make a moment feel dangerous, sad, frantic, or strangely beautiful before the dialogue even fully explains what is happening. That visual control is what makes the issue work so well. Even when the story becomes wildly surreal, the art always knows what feeling it wants to create. By the time the finale reaches its most emotional moments, the artwork has already prepared the reader to feel the weight of Ted’s choices, making the ending hit even harder.
Check Out My Review of IS TED OK? #5
Final Thoughts:
Is Ted OK? #6 sticks the landing and brings an amazing ending to this unique and awesome series. The uniqueness of the story brings readers in, but the drama and emotions are what really keep readers hooked. The ending is fitting and conclusive but does leave the door open to return to this world as well. I for one would welcome another chapter of this amazing story. If you are like me and have been reading this series issue by issue, you will be very happy with this conclusion to the story. However, if you sat this one out, I’ve got great options for you, get to your local shop and hope they have all 6 issues, wait for the Trade Paperback and enjoy, or head over to Neon Ichiban and get every issue NOW! No matter what you ultimately choose, one thing is for sure you need to read this series in its entirety.
FINAL GRADE: 10/10
Let me know your thoughts on Is Ted Ok? #6 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
