Comic Review: Charmed #7: The Heir Up There
Issue: Charmed #7: The Heir Up There
Release Date: March 2011
Author: Paul Ruditis
Artist: Marcio Abreu
Cover A: David Seidman
Colors: Milen Parvanov
Letters: Jim Campbell
Editors: Ralph Tedesco and Paul Ruditis
Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment
This month’s issue of the comic lets us focus on Leo! The Whitelighter has always been one of my favorite characters, so I was happily looking forward to seeing where this one would go. To be more exact, the story centers on Melinda, but her father is sent to find out the reason she can float furniture. Yes, the baby has Whitelighter powers.
I liked seeing the changes amongst the Elders. Kyle Brody’s gotten a promotion, which was unexpected. And apparently the Elders had a larger plan for Leo and his daughter. Despite it being impossible that the traits would be passed from father to child, Melinda has indeed inherited his Whitelighter powers. The question then is why? What do the Elders want with her? That’s what Leo is determined to find out, but the truth is problematic. The Elders altered the twice-blessed prophecy, so Wyatt, Chris, and Melinda are all twice-blessed.
Since the Elders over-stepped their boundaries on this, they’ve been replaced. Is the new council going to be any better than the previous one? Or will they continue to create havoc in the lives of the Charmed Ones? If I were betting, I would put my money on the latter. But Kyle’s not done with the revelations yet because not only has he been chosen to be the Charmed Ones’ new Whitelighter, but Kyle can also give Leo back his wings so that he can become the Guardian of his family. Isn’t this the best solution for Leo? Well, the offer wasn’t made out of the goodness of the Elders’ hearts. No, it was done to protect them from renowned Darklighter Rennek, who has not only returned, but teamed up with Neena. But Leo doesn’t want to take the deal. He’ll help fight the good fight, but he’s not going to watch his family grow old while he does not. It’s not what he wants and it’s not what he’d choose.
One of my large problems with this issue was the change in artists. Abreu and Parvanov worked together previously on the art for Issue #4. I loved the artwork for that one, so I’m absolutely confused why this issue lost the slickness and left us with a hazy representation of the characters. In the beginning, the lines weren’t crisp, the colors were muted, and it separated the reader from the story. As we make our way through the comic, the characters’ appearances become almost unrecognizable in certain situations. At one point, Leo was substituted for Don Johnson. It wasn’t pretty. Also, I was so focused on how huge Melinda’s head was drawn that I couldn’t concentrate on the scenes she was in.
So, on one hand, I was happy to see Neena back and we’re going back to the larger storyline that we started in the first five issues. On the other hand, the artwork definitely hindered the storytelling and if Neena hadn’t been named I wouldn’t have recognized her at all. I’m hoping that as we continue forward with this arc that the renderings improve. Until next time, I’m left to ponder what a Rennek and Neena partnership might mean. It’s certainly nothing good.
Rating: 3 / 5 Stars
Fandomania was provided a copy of this comic for review.
March 8th, 2011 at 2:24 am
["Despite it being impossible that the traits would be passed from father to child, Melinda has indeed inherited his Whitelighter powers."]
HOW? Leo has been a mortal since late Season 7. Typical “CHARMED”. They always manage to fuck up the writing, one way or the other.
March 8th, 2011 at 7:14 am
They didn’t mess up the writing. I touched briefly upon how it was accomplished in my review and the comic goes into it in more detail. There was a reason behind how it happened and it wasn’t because of sloppy writing.
March 8th, 2011 at 10:01 am
Kyle wasnt chosen as their whitelighter.
Kyle says he is the liason of the charmed ones and their whitelighter (meaning Leo)
March 8th, 2011 at 10:11 am
I didn’t take the line to mean that when I first read it (since Leo isn’t their Whitelighter anymore as far as I know?), but it would make sense. Thanks for the clarification.
March 9th, 2011 at 8:22 am
well Kyle is an elders, elders dont have charges. And also he called Leo a whitelighter because in the next line he is offering him to have his wings again :)
Glad to help (and yes i was confused when i first read that too hehe)
March 9th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
@Rosie Charmed didn’t fuck up anything. Have you not been paying attention? Prudence Melinda has Whitelighter powers because the Elders bestowed her with them because they wanted all of Piper’s children to be twice blessed. DUH.