REVIEW: 'Monarch' #4 by Rodney Barnes, Alex Lins, and Luis NCT

MONARCH #4

Writer: Rodney Barnes

Artist: Alex Lins, Luis NCT

Letters: Marshall Dillon

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: May 10, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99

"STRANGER FROM ABOVE," Part Four

Aliens are wreaking havoc on the city of Compton and the rest of the world, and only one young man stands in their way! As Travon finds a way to escape his extraterrestrial captors, Daysha, the love of his life, comes face to face with an even more dangerous threat from the unlikeliest of places. Will Travon make it back in time to save her, or will these star-crossed lovers be ripped apart forever?!

From RODNEY BARNES, the star comics writer behind the Eisner-nominated series KILLADELPHIA and the writer/executive producer of HBO's Winning Time, and up-and-coming Marvel artist ALEX LINS comes a tale of love, triumph, disaster, and defeat!

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

QUICK REVIEW: 'Monarch' has been a refreshing take on tried-and-true alien invasion thrillers and the stakes get even higher for Travon as his loyalties are tested and ultimately revealed but will it be too late to save his human friends and Daysha specifically? In another compelling turn, 'Monarch' continues a fast-paced tempo with Travon trying to escape his alien creators to return to Compton. Rodney Barnes keeps the tension high and even adds an unnecessary but chilling subplot to add to readers' anxiety. Alex Lins and Luis NCT create some exciting and cinematic chase sequences and on a dime, slow it down into an eerie suspenseful stalking in the halls of the school. Overall, 'Monarch' continues to be a top-tier pull that's entertaining, thoughtful, and often exhilarating.

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