Image Comics reviews 5/10/23 – Junkyard Joe #6, The Ambassadors #4

Monarch #4

This issue is a tale of two origins of sorts. The first, and more endearing is Travon’s decision to commit to fighting for humanity’s future and stand with the people he’s come to love. With the second, writer Rodney Barnes basically takes a look at how an unhinged child, Travon’s classmate, Todd, gradually becomes a mass shooter.

It’s a heavy topic for a title that hasn’t actually played by the rules from its original issue, and it doesn’t add much to the story. Teens battling an alien invasion will do that and it’s not like an active teen shooter killing his classmates was needed to show that people can and do treat each other terribly.

Monarch hasn’t been predictable for any installment, and this is definitely no exception. The Travon sequences are stronger more from his inner monologue as he considers his decision and questions how humanity could treat each other in such terrible fashion.

Alex Lins’ art keeps improving with more creative layouts and character perspectives. There’s always going to be a certain roughness with Lins’ style, but it’s flowing better in the context of Monarch from the first issue. Luis Nct’s color work, with color assists from Mar Silvestre Galotto, is essential to the storytelling in conveying Travon’s mindset and the dangers around his friends.

The Todd storyline didn’t click mainly due to Travon’s story feeling so much fresher and unique to Monarch.

Rating: 7 out of 10