The final battle is here as the Faerie army closes in!
The kids seemingly have nowhere to escape, with Wynd in dire straits as he takes it upon himself to battle the Faerie General. What will it take to save the children, and more importantly, what role does Wynd's blood play in all of this?
Prior to his first professional work, Tynion was a student of Scott Snyder's at Sarah Lawrence College. A few years later, he worked as for Vertigo as Fables editor Shelly Bond's intern. In late 2011, with DC deciding to give Batman (written by Snyder) a back up feature, Tynion was brought in by request of Snyder to script the back ups he had plotted. Tynion would later do the same with the Batman Annual #1, which was also co-plotted by Snyder. Beginning in September 2012, with DC's 0 issue month for the New 52, Tynion will be writing Talon, with art by Guillem March. In early 2013 it was announced that he'd take over writing duties for Red Hood and the Outlaws in April.
Tynion is also currently one of the writers in a rotating team in the weekly Batman Eternal series.
Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #5 serves as a gripping and emotional finale to the third arc of the Wynd series. This issue delivers a whirlwind of action, drama, and shocking revelations that set the stage for the forthcoming narrative. The characters are pushed to their emotional limits as their stories intersect in heart-wrenching ways.
The issue opens with General Zedra, a character whose thirst for vengeance drives much of the tension. She drags Oakley to a high balcony, using her as bait to draw out Wynd. Zedra’s monologue reveals her deep bitterness and desire to exact revenge on Wynd for the death of her brother, the Bandaged Man. She is determined to make Wynd suffer and intends to use Oakley to achieve her goal. The way Zedra relishes in her cruelty, hoping to force Oakley to scream, heightens the villainous tension and establishes her as a significant threat.
Meanwhile, Wynd attempts to explain the war to Strawberry, a giant whose calm and gentle nature contrasts starkly with the chaos unfolding around him. Strawberry's quiet wisdom becomes evident when he reveals that he already knows much of what Wynd is telling him. His revelation about having winged human friends like Wynd suggests a deeper connection between the winged folk and the giants. However, their conversation is abruptly interrupted by Oakley’s scream, and chaos ensues.
Strawberry, in his attempt to help, is stabbed in the nose by Eks’s second-in-command in a sudden and brutal attack. This scene shifts the pace of the issue from a calm moment of exposition to one of frantic action. General Eks confronts Wynd and slashes one of his wings, leaving Wynd and the children in immediate danger as the Vampyres make their move.
One of the most powerful scenes in the issue is when the Vampyres capture the remaining children, and the tension between the characters is palpable. Yorik pleads to General Zedra for Oakley’s release, showcasing his desperation and vulnerability. Merien’s quick thinking and analysis of the situation display her resourcefulness, as she notices the Vampyres’ disinterest in Yorik and formulates a plan to create a distraction. The use of fire to burn through their ropes is a clever and thrilling moment, with Bastian and Teek working together to initiate the distraction. This sets the stage for the duke’s men to launch a surprise attack on the Vampyres.
The artwork in this scene, with the humans and Vampyres locked in chaotic battle, is striking. The clash of colors, particularly the deep reds and blacks of the Vampyres, contrasts with the warm hues of the humans, emphasizing the life-or-death struggle between the two groups. The chaotic energy of the battle is palpable, with each character’s actions and reactions clearly conveyed through dynamic poses and vivid expressions.
As the battle rages, Strawberry uses his unique abilities to summon Sprytles from his beard to heal his wounds. This whimsical and magical moment stands out in the midst of the otherwise dark and brutal conflict, showing that there are still elements of wonder and hope in this war-torn world. Wynd sees this and quickly asks Strawberry for help, leading to one of the issue’s most dramatic moments: Wynd transforms into his monstrous form, with the help of the Sprytles, allowing him to heal his wing and regain the ability to fly.
The design of Wynd’s monstrous form is one of the highlights of the issue, with intricate details reminiscent of the dark-winged creatures he encountered in previous issues. The use of color, particularly the blues and whites, gives this transformation a surreal, almost ethereal quality that makes it both beautiful and terrifying.
However, the emotional core of the issue lies in the interactions between the characters. The reunion between Bastian, Yorik, Yadriel, and Thorn is fraught with tension, particularly between Thorn and his father, Ash. Ash’s rejection of Thorn due to his "weirdblood" status is heartbreaking. Thorn’s desperate plea for acceptance — “It's me, Dad. I’m safe.” — is met with Ash’s cold refusal, highlighting the deep-rooted prejudices that continue to drive a wedge between people in this world. This scene is beautifully written, as it captures the emotional complexity of a father who is torn between fear and love, and a son who just wants to be accepted for who he is.
The conversation between Yorik and Thorn is a significant emotional moment in the issue, highlighting Yorik's growing understanding and acceptance of Thorn's transformation. After seeing Thorn's changes due to the magic in his blood, Yorik initially struggles with fear and misunderstanding, similar to Ash. However, in this conversation, Yorik assures Thorn that despite his father's rejection, he still believes in him. Yorik expresses regret for the harsh things he said earlier, recognizing that Thorn is still the same person despite his new powers. This moment of reconciliation is disrupted by the attack on their location, forcing the characters to confront the more immediate physical dangers around them.
Strawberry’s death is one of the most tragic moments in the issue. After healing his wound with the help of the Sprytles, Strawberry steps in to warn the children and tries to protect them. However, his confrontation with General Eks proves fatal. Strawberry’s size and strength, which initially made him seem invincible, are no match for Eks’s brutal attack. Eks, driven by his intense hatred for humanity, shows no mercy, killing Strawberry to pave the way for his continued hunt of the children. Strawberry’s death serves as a harsh reminder of the stakes of the war and the immense power of Eks, solidifying him as a ruthless and relentless antagonist.
The attack of Eks and his second-in-command, Lonomia, adds a layer of tension and danger to the narrative. After the duke’s men free the children from the Vampyres, Eks leads an assault on them to regain control of the situation. The dynamic between Eks and Lonomia is particularly interesting; while Lonomia is fiercely loyal to Eks, her brutal efficiency in hunting down the duke’s men and the children reflects her willingness to carry out his orders without question. This culminates in the brutal battle between Zedra and Lonomia, where Zedra, despite her vendetta against Wynd and Yorik, ultimately clashes with Eks and his second-in-command. Zedra’s viciousness is on full display when she slashes Lonomia’s chest and lets her fall to her death, demonstrating that her motivations extend far beyond the immediate conflict between races. Her willingness to turn on her own people in the pursuit of power underscores her unpredictability and adds another layer of complexity to the conflict.
These moments contribute significantly to the escalating tension in the issue. The focus shifts from personal conflicts—like the strained relationships between Thorn and Ash, or the reconciliation between Yorik and Thorn—to larger, life-threatening battles that threaten the future of all the characters. Strawberry’s death, in particular, is a turning point in the story, setting the stage for a much darker and more dangerous journey as the children and duke’s men now face the full force of General Eks.
The stakes are raised even higher when General Zedra arrives, holding Wynd by his ankle, unconscious and drained from his earlier transformation. Zedra, displaying her bat-like wings for the first time, shocks Eks and the others with her power. Her brutal attack on Eks’s second-in-command, Lonomia, is a moment of savage intensity, as she claws Lonomia’s chest and lets her fall to her death. Zedra’s ruthlessness knows no bounds, and her plan to take Wynd and Yorik back to the Vampyrium adds a chilling layer to the already dire situation.
The moment when Zedra slashes off Oakley’s hand as she tries to stop her from taking Wynd is one of the most shocking and painful moments in the issue. Oakley, who has been so strong and brave throughout, is left devastated, and Thorn’s frantic rush to help her is cut short by Ash, who tackles him to the ground. Ash’s fear of losing his son to the “vile magic” in his blood is a powerful and tragic moment that underscores the theme of fear and rejection that runs through this series.
The issue ends on a haunting note, with Wynd catching a glimpse of the two dark-winged creatures he met in previous issues as he loses consciousness. Zedra flies off with Wynd and Yorik, leaving the rest of the group to face an uncertain future. The final panel, with Strawberry lying dead, having been killed by General Eks, is a heartbreaking conclusion to the issue. Strawberry, who was such a gentle and kind figure, is gone, and the weight of his death hangs heavy over the story.
Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #5 masterfully balances action, emotion, and world-building. The pacing is relentless, with each scene building on the last to create a sense of escalating tension and danger. The characters are pushed to their limits, both physically and emotionally, and the stakes have never been higher. The stunning artwork, particularly in the action scenes and Wynd’s transformation, brings this fantastical world to life in vivid detail. As the third arc of the Wynd series comes to a close, this issue leaves readers eager for the next chapter in this epic tale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Okay, well I feel like I was led astray (possibly just by my own mind) because I thought this was the finale of the whole series, but I guess this was just the ending for what will be volume 3... Which makes a lot more sense because if this had been the finale, everything would be super rushed.
But I did enjoy this part and I can't wait for the next issue.
This is only one of a handful of title that I have read online. I didn't want to wait for the TPB. Just trying to figure out how I manage to remember the story and make sure to read it when it comes out. It is saying something that I want to read it this way. The story, after the initial volume, has become more nuanced and less predictable. I am enjoying that aspect.
I love the ending to this and I cannot wait to see where it goes in the next series. Over the course of the issues the characters have developed really well and there is a great amount of story and plot. The artwork is amazing and I can't wait to continue to read.
More of a 3.5 star rating; These poor children have gone through enough as is and things got progressively worse as this comic issue continued. With a bad/ominous cliffhanger ending, I’m just going that everyone stays alive in the next comic issue.