Moonstar #3: A Surprising Success

Moonstar #3 starts off with an effective opening. In the first few scenes, the comic dives deep into who Dani Moonstar is as a person. Readers explore her thoughts, her feelings, and her emotions. The author, Ashley Allen, explores Dani’s inner thoughts and turmoil by exploring her psyche in conjunction with that of an antagonist’s. Allen weaves the minds of the two characters together, creating an intentional comparison that highlight’s Dani’s strength as a protagonist.

While not as compelling as the first half, the second half of the comic continues the momentum established at the start. Characters are forced to grapple with the physical toll of their decisions; a one-off but pointed moment that foreshadows future consequences. Dani is faced with a weighty moral dilemma that feels a little less significant than the comic presents it as. However, for the type of person that Dani is (especially as she is portrayed in this comic), it makes sense for her to feel the weight of her decision. Ultimately, Dani’s decision is left as a cliff-hanger to be resolved in the following issue. 

The art in this comic, penciled and inked by Edoardo Audino and colored by Arthur Hesli, is absolutely stunning. Audino’s dynamic art style elevates this comic above a typical issue on the shelves. In particular, Audino toys with reflections in the second half of the comic, contrasting Dani and Kyron. These reflected images add another layer of depth and emotion to scenes already packed with stunning visuals. Audino subtly uses the art to establish parallels between the protagonist and the antagonist. The panels shift from highly detailed to minimalistic, adding an almost child-like charm to the comic. Yet, this charm is not on every page; sometimes, the lack of detail can give the impression that a panel was an afterthought.

Hesli’s color work deserves recognition as well. The contrast between the second and third pages is deliberate: page two bursts with vibrant yellows and greens, full of light and life; page three is cold, colored with heavy greys and draining blues. The palette choice helps provide a visual juxtaposition between two of the characters.