Bug Wars #6 wasn’t going to be the end of Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar’s microscopic, blood-soaked saga. With all the hints at a wider world – and the final pages of this series – there’s so much more to explore. However, it hits all the right notes as the ending of the first act of a story. Aaron and Asrar pack in plenty of danger, action, and emotion into the pages of Bug Wars #6.
Asrar, in particular, doesn’t skimp on the gore or the details. A particularly gruesome moment is when Slade Slaymaker, fully empowered by the magic of his father’s mysterious amulet, battles through a horde of bugs. He picks up one warrior and literally presses him into a ball, sending blood spewing everywhere. He cleaves through warriors like a hot knife through butter with his axe, the carnage spiraling into a spray of multicolored blood thanks to Matt Wilson’s terrific color work.
This battle’s only topped by the opening pages where Slade’s brother Syd is attacked by the forces of the Yard. Asrar makes sure to emphasize how gruesome this moment is; various welts dot Syd’s skin, while blood starts dripping out of his nose, and he screams in agony. It’s horrific to watch, but it also sells how dangerous the world of Bug Wars is. To make matters even worse, Aaron’s script reveals what’s happening to Syd in gruesome detail.
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Bug Wars #6 isn’t all blood and guts, though. Aaron takes the chance to pen an emotional reunion between Slade and his late father Jim, while also showing the ferocity he’ll unleash to protect his brother. Considering Syd made Slade’s life a living hell before he was six inches tall, that says a lot – but it also shows that for all the ups and downs, Slade truly loves Syd.
Toward the end of the issue, the creative team starts to give more hints about what’s coming next, in addition to Becca Carey’s carefully crafted journal entries. I won’t go into details, but it’s genuinely exciting and shows that Bug Wars could be an Image series that’s on the level of Saga or Invincible in terms of building a compelling, original story. It’s why Image has become one of my favorite publishers over the years; it lets creators step in and craft comics that not only rival, but sometimes exceed some of the biggest works that Marvel and DC are doing.
Bug Wars #6 delivers a bloody, poignant end to the first act of a story, while hinting at more to come. Aaron and Asrar have created something truly special here, and I urge readers to check it out. If you’re a fan of what Aaron’s done with Thor, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Absolute Superman, you need to pick this comic up. If you love fantasy, you need to see the world that Asrar’s brought to life. If you’re looking for a title that will truly shake up your pull list, this definitely should be on your radar.
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