THE LAST STARFIGHTER #3 (Mad Cave Studios)

After losing Tyborus to the Blackstar ambush during the training exercise, Alex is really down on himself. He needs someone to uplift his spirits, so it’s a good thing he must return to Earth and see his family. However, Naxos is still plotting on how she can make him pay, as well as a mystery figure that is attempting to intimidate his family on Earth.

The Last Starfighter #3 - Written By Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes – Art By Willi Roberts - Colors By Francesco Segala – Flats By Agnese Pozza – Letters By Rob Jones - Edited By Sarah Brunstad - Published By Mad Cave Studios

Credit: Mad Cave Studios

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

After returning to Rylos, Alex must tell the rest of the team that Tyborus was killed during the Blackstar attack. This loss hits the team hard and forces each of the new Starfighter’s to grieve in their own way. Alex of course takes it the hardest as he doubts that he is the leader he needs to be. However, after a frantic message from his brother Louis, Alex and Maggie return to Earth to make sure everything is alright. A man in a suit has been asking questions about spaceships and aliens, which made Louis nervous. Thankfully for Alex, the return visit home allowed his mother to have a heart to heart with him that refocuses him on his mission and gives him the confidence to move forward. Unfortunately for Alex, Naxos is plotting on how she can hurt him the way he hurt her, and that is not a good thing for Alex or the people he loves.

WRITING:

This issue does a fantastic job of bridging the story and giving the reader the why behind what. Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes let us in on what makes Alex question himself as a leader. But then find a way to get him home and really allow him to feel grounded and confident yet again. However, the writers don’t allow the reader to get too overjoyed for him, as they allow us to see that the walls may be closing in on him at the same time. The threat of Naxos and the Blackstar’s with revenge and dominance on their mind back in space. Well at the same time, the possible threat from this mysterious man in a suit to his family on Earth. The fact that Alex doesn’t know about the extent of either threat brings a great deal of suspense for what is to come in this series.

Well this is going on with Alex, Raab & Hughes aren’t letting the other characters off of the hook either. The Starfighter team is dealing with the loss of Tyborus, and their different forms of grieving are having an effect on how they approach each other and has even caused a great deal of friction between the members of the team. At the same time, we are still trying to figure out what is going on with Centauri. This forces us to acknowledge that maybe Naxos and the Blackstar’s are not the biggest threat to the Starfighter’s, but maybe it’s the Starfighter’s themselves.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue continues to build the world we find ourselves in and even makes the scope of this world bigger with the visit to Earth. Willi Roberts does a magnificent job of making this universe feel huge and keeping the artwork looking fresh no matter what the setting is. What the artwork misses in the lack of action scenes, it more than makes up for in the dramatic scenes our team find themselves in. The emotions are running high and Roberts gives us a front row seat to said emotions as they play out. The facial features and body language speak volumes and brings you in even when there are little words to portray the emotions.

Francesco Segala’s color choices really enforce the emotions that are unfolding on the pages. The use of colors to let the reader know exactly what the mood of each panel and page are really makes it easy to decipher what the characters are feeling. The lettering by Rob Jones further backs this up and makes it easy to follow the story. Overall, the art team really brings their A-game to this issue, much like they have for the series so far.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF THE LAST STARFIGHTER #2

Final Thoughts:

The Last Starfighter #3 delivers a thoughtful, suspenseful issue that deepens Alex’s struggle with leadership while raising the stakes on Earth and in space. Strong character work and expressive artwork make this an effective bridge to the dangers ahead. This series should be on everyone’s radar and if you’re looking for an adventure story that delivers a great deal of emotion, you should give this series a shot.

FINAL GRADE: 8.8/10

Let me know your thoughts on The Last Starfighter #3 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!