Throughout Moonstar #3, readers old and new will have a chance to witness what makes Dani Moonstar the hero she is. I mean this both in a figurative sense, as she’s fighting off the spirit of the cursed sword Dainslef, and literally, as she’s pulled through key moments in her past. But rather than playing this off as a collection of Dani’s “greatest hits”, Ashley Allen and Edoardo Audino use it to have Dani do a bit of soul searching (again, in more ways than one).
In a lot of ways, Moonstar #3 reminds me of Uncanny X-Men #138. In that issue, Chris Claremont and John Bryne retold the entire history of the X-Men up to that point as a way to cap off the Dark Phoenix Saga and tap into the deep wells of grief that Cyclops was feeling after losing Jean Grey. Similarly, Allen uses Dani’s history to show how she’s grown as a hero and as a person. Whether it’s leading the New Mutants, becoming a Valkyrie, or even her time on Krakoa, she always finds people to love and protect. “Home has always been the people I’ve loved,” she says in a choice bit of dialogue. It’s that love that allows her to cut through the illusions, alongside her actual mutant powers of illusion and her spellcasting.
If the trip down memory lane wasn’t powerful enough, Allen also gives Dani some immense emotional stakes toward the end of the issue that promise a devastating showdown. Too often, we see stakes in a superhero narrative reduced to “saving the world”. It’s much more compelling when a hero has skin in the game, and that’s definitely the case for Dani. It also raises the question: how the hell is Allen going to pull it off, especially when she only has two issues left? Whatever the case, she’ll definitely hook readers with the final pages.
Marvel
Another thing that will hook readers is Audino’s artwork. He excels at depicting different moments in Dani’s past, dividing Moonstar #3 into three distinct sections. The first brings back the lush paradise of Krakoa and will probably tug at readers’ hearts in the process. The second is a war-torn battleground, full of clashing swords and spears as the Valkyries make a defiant stand against an unknown enemy. The third is arguably the standout, since it brings the New Mutants into the picture. The New Mutants have long been Dani’s surrogate family as well as her teammates, so it only makes sense that they’d be part of her defenses against Dainslef.
I also love how Arthur Hesli makes each section stand out with his color art. The scenes on Krakoa feel lush, vibrant, and inviting. The Valkryie scene is shrouded in a blue-gray mist, heralding the presence of death and the malevolent spirit that haunts Dainslef’s steel. Finally, the New Mutants segment is bursting with bright yellows and solid blacks that make up the team’s signature uniforms, providing a sharp contrast to the deathly-pale spirit Dani is fighting. Paired with Clayton Cowles’ sharp, direct lettering, it creates imagery that keeps your eye glued to the page.
Moonstar #3 takes readers on a whirlwind ride through Dani Moonstar’s history and deepens the emotional stakes along the way. When all’s said and done, this comic is going to be an example of how you can tell a great story with any member of the X-Men.
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