Connect with us
Shade, The Changing Woman #6 Review

Comic Books

Shade, The Changing Woman #6 Review

The series finale sees Shade fighting to save the world, her friends, and herself. If she only had the heart to do it!

[amazon_link asins=’B07FCVGXQM’ template=’AiPTProductAd’ store=’aiptcomics-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’fb6387f2-95a0-11e8-8fbc-1d4c674b3859′]

Shade, The Changing Woman #6 is the finale issue of the series and concludes the story begun in Shade, The Changing Girl. Loma Shade is still missing her heart, but she knows it’s what she needs to handle the conflict unfolding in the Madness and save the Earth at the same time. Does the series end on a high note?

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

So much happens in this issue that I almost wish there was one more issue and the finale had been split into two parts to let the climax breathe a little more. Writer Cecil Castellucci’s style for the series maintains the poetic feeling the series has carried throughout, emphasizing dialogue and emotion over action. However, because the climax also involves the whole series’ cast gathering together at the end, that assembly of characters feels very rushed so that the resolution in the issue’s second half feels too quick as well with only so many pages left after the cast is assembled. I think that’s why a heroic sacrifice that occurs near the end of the issue doesn’t feel as affecting as it could have and seems less like a really impactful moment and more like a mechanic to facilitate plot.

Shade, The Changing Woman #6 Review

Marley Zarcone and Ande Parks, who provide line art and additional inks respectively, bring their best to the finale, making generous use of an effect where everything is doubled just enough so the panels look like they would be in 3D with the appropriate glasses. The backgrounds in the Madness are a delight, whether filled with drawn spirals or added textures and pixelation from Kelly Fitzpatrick’s excellent coloring work. There are several other effects used in the coloring in this issue that couldn’t be done without a really smooth collaboration between the coloring and line art and Fitzpatrick delivers stunning work on every page.

This is Shade, so expect every color in the crayon box to be present and then some. The ways in which those colors are used with multiple effects layered next to or on top of each other is what makes the coloring in Shade really have a personality of its own. It’s hard to describe the artwork in the Shade series without overuse of the words “trippy” and “psychedelic,” but Zarcone, Parks, and Fitzpatrick really capture those adjectives in ways that don’t feel like they’re reaching towards aesthetics of past decades, but instead expertly wielding those styles in a way that feels fresh and exciting to look at. Saida Temofonte’s lettering work continues to be solid, though I wish there were more sound effects during the action scenes. I feel there are opportunities there for the lettering to get really weird and it would have made the action feel more exciting as well.

Shade, The Changing Woman #6 Review

Overall, Shade, The Changing Woman #6 doesn’t necessarily end with a bang, but the artwork really delivers on all the fronts readers of the series would expect and then some. As far as endings go, the issue didn’t leave me wanting more, but I don’t think it was so underwhelming that fans of the series will feel deeply disappointed.

Shade, The Changing Woman #6 Review
Shade, The Chaging Woman #6
Is it good?
The art team deliver their best work in the series for the finale, while the script felt too rushed, making major plot points less affecting.
Cecil Castellucci’s poetic writing style elevates the dialogue and narration as always.
Marley Zarcone and Ande Parks deliver their best in the pencils and inks and every panel is imbued with trippy weirdness.
Kelly Fitzpatrick’s coloring and effects boggle the mind with all the stops pulled for the finale.
The ending felt very rushed between assembling the cast and concluding the plot, which led to important moments feeling less impactful.
There could have been more opportunities for the lettering to elevate the madness of the issue even further.
6.5
Good

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

'My Adventures with Superman' gets new comics series starting June 2024 'My Adventures with Superman' gets new comics series starting June 2024

‘My Adventures with Superman’ gets new comics series starting June 2024

Comic Books

'X-Men' #35 (LGY #700) is the final farewell to the Krakoan Age 'X-Men' #35 (LGY #700) is the final farewell to the Krakoan Age

‘X-Men’ #35 (LGY #700) is the final farewell to the Krakoan Age

Comic Books

New DC Black Label 'Zatanna: Bring Down the House' out June 25th New DC Black Label 'Zatanna: Bring Down the House' out June 25th

New DC Black Label ‘Zatanna: Bring Down the House’ out June 25th

Comic Books

DC Preview: Action Comics #1063 DC Preview: Action Comics #1063

DC Preview: Action Comics #1063

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup