The Last God: Songs of Lost Children #1: I’m a Very Scary Monster

Queen Cyanthe makes her return in the spinoff issue of The Last God entitled “Songs of Lost Children,” expanding the world of Cain Anuun with a mythical tale of horror and suspense. But this is far from just a filler issue as the bloodline of Tyr makes its way into the story and foreshadows a potential dark twist yet to be explored.

When we were first introduced to the expansive story of The Last God, a comic such as the “Song of Lost Children” felt inevitable. The world-building is beyond anything I’ve seen in comics before so I was thrilled to see it continue to grow outside of the main 12-issue series. Though creator Phillip Kennedy Johnson isn’t tackling this issue directly, the story still feels remarkably well grounded in the established world and benefits greatly from a more linear and cohesive narrative timeline. Following Queen Cyanthe proves to be a great outlet to explore the surrounding world as her and the handmaiden Nykeo stumble upon a dire situation involving taken children.

What unfolds next plays wonderfully on the horror influences that help to make The Last God so unique. It has a Mignola-style approach to the one shot with deep mythological roots and uses strong characterizations to push the story forward. Writer Dan Watters brings a new tone to the series but doesn’t stray too far from what works so well with a focus on strong pacing. It’s a refreshing story that shows just how much potential the world really has.

Once again, the most alluring aspect of this series is the artwork. Though it isn’t exactly the high fantasy epic that we see in the main series, “The Song of Lost Children” feels like a Thomas Kinkade painting come to life with horrific undertones to punctuate the monster who has been taking children. There is a grim nuance to the visuals that works really well with the script to make a one-shot story that feels both substantial and worthwhile. And Dave Stewart’s impeccable colors with Tom Napolitano’s consistently enjoyable letters give the issue a truly timeless feel.

This story is much more than just Queen Cyanthe and Nykeo taking down a monster as there are levels of mystery at play that both give this issue an exciting twist and even tie into the main series. It’s rewarding for those who have followed along and easily approachable for someone who is wanting to dive into the world of Cain Anuun. As a result, the issue is one that is honestly worth both your time and money to read. You don’t need to know the converging timelines and horrors of the Black Stairs to get everything out of this book, but it doesn’t ignore the consequences of what transpires either.

If you haven’t picked up The Last God yet, this is a great place to see if the series is for your or not. It has all of the high fantasy and truly horrifying elements all packed into a one-shot that you certainly won’t regret reading, so don’t miss out!