The Magic Order 5 #6 review – Dark Horse Comics 7/9/25
The Magic Order 5 #6 wraps this fifth volume and the series on an epic note fitting one of the more spellbinding comics this decade.
It’s taken a while to reach the conclusion of the saga — literally and figuratively. The Magic Order 5 #6 resumes the storyline five months after the fourth installment so a recap might have been in order just to refresh readers on where things stand.
Cordelia Moonstone learned she was slated to die by the end of the night as various forces, including Sister Moon’s daughter, closes in on her. Last issue, writer Mark Millar actually made good on that threat with Cordelia’s death…or at least her 139-year-old self. Now the present-day Cordelia has to deal with a threat not just to herself, but the remnants of The Magic Order as Samuel Mott has summoned The Dark Lords using The Bell.
Cordelia’s neophyte Magic Order is already overmatched dealing with Mott’s magic and there’s exactly no chance they can defeat the Dark Lords. Unless Cordelia taps into black magic again. The last time was catastrophic for her family and the order so utilizing it again seems like a fatal choice and potentially not just her. Unless Millar has one last trick to pull out of his hat…
One of the trickiest aspects of the final chapter in each The Magic Order’s volume has been the payoff. Millar continually has done a masterful job of raising the stakes and making it seem like the Order has no shot at victory only to pull it off in the end with a clever narrative sleight of hand.
The Magic Order 5 #6 also has one of those inspired payoffs and without exaggeration, this was the most satisfying yet. As usual it doesn’t feel like some cheap cop-out way to get out of the corner Millar wrote the story in. Throughout this volume and the series, Millar has established some truths when it came to magic in this realm. All readers needed to do was keep in mind key details Millar explained along the way, and it all comes together smoothly.
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Artist Matteo Buffagni has done stellar work throughout this run, but his work on The Magic Order 5 #6 is outstanding. Buffagni crafts some exquisite confrontations really embracing the challenge of making this final issue a gorgeous visual culmination of the mesmerizing work began by his predecessors Olivier Coipel, Stuart Immonen, Gigi Cavenago and Dike Ruan.
Buffagni was a terrific final collaborator for Millar on this title as his art really delivers from a last act perspective.
Colorist Giovanna Niro utilizes such a captivating blend of colors from yellows and oranges to rich blues and purples and reds. The artwork further stands out thanks to the striking color choices. Letterer Clem Robins always keeps the linework and dialogue clear with creative alignment of the sound effects.
The Magic Order 5 #6 pays off the four previous volumes strongly. Not that anyone should jump into the series with this fifth volume, but it really is rewarding for readers who’ve been on the ride since the first issue of Volume 1.
The Magic Order 5 #6 is billed as the last issue in the series, but Millar probably has a few more stories in mind for The Order. It would be fun to revisit the next generation of the Order perhaps after they’ve become more accomplished and have reached the level of esteem as their predecessors. Or potentially the next generation of Moonstones and if they take up the family business as leaders of Magic Order.
There certainly are several more possibilities. Maybe the biggest trick will be the wait for a sixth volume? It doesn’t seem like a question of if Millar will, but when. And it can’t happen soon enough.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Photo Credit: Dark Horse Comics
Enjoyed The Magic Order 5 #6. Check out the series from the beginning with The Magic Order Vol. 1 on Amazon.
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