The fight for Magic is on! Now that he has a statue body and seeming consciousness, both Archaeus and Angel want him on their teams. But the fact is, Magic seems so young and new to this world that he might strike out on his own. We just need to wait and see how it all turns out.
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
When we start with the issue, Illyria is fighting the statue while Nadira looks on, trying to get her to stop provoking him. That’s not going to be so easy, as she is fired up and ready to lash out at the being that brought her to the forefront. The ensuing fight creates destruction all around them and it looks like it is bound to get worse if someone or something doesn’t intervene. Even Koh’s attempts to get her to calm down don’t go so well at first, as she hauls him up by the throat and lets her anger control her actions. But finally his words penetrate her brain, as he offers his trust towards her. Someone has to make the first step, and he’s doing it. Now it’s Illyria’s turn to do the same. Calmness and Fred return to the scene.
Meanwhile, Nadira tries to talk down the statue, telling him he’s got to learn restraint. Powered-up figures are not going to make the situation any better, especially those new to having a tangible body. Angel and Faith entering the scene doesn’t seem to make things better, and neither does Achaeus’s appearance. The latter explains how the statue’s metal body is ancient, meant to be a container for magic, or a focus for it. And then he appears to give Magic a choice, to join him in his fight. He claims, if Magic refuses, that he will respect the decision. Somehow, I don’t think he will be true to his words, but the fact that he appears to be non-confrontational causes Magic to believe Archaeus is actually the better side.
Considering what happens next, I can see why the statue might believe Archaeus. When it looks like Magic might join the other side, Nadira attempts to stop him and Archaeus attacks her for her troubles. That brings out Angel, Koh, and Faith to take up the fight, but they don’t fare much better and have to regroup off-site to figure out what to do next.
Meanwhile, back in the park, Nadira still tries to talk Magic out of joining Archaeus while Fred and the aunts try to take Archaeus down with arrows, for all the good it does. But it does provide Koh, Faith, and Angel enough time to start charging in again with a new plan. They get a few good swipes in, hurting him before he throws them off.
As we end the issue, it’s a stand-off between Angel and his team against Archaeus and a newly-arrived Dru with her minions to back them up. It seems like a very unequal fight in numbers, but I wouldn’t want to count anyone out just yet. But we’re left to ponder which side Magic will join and what the outcome will be when he does. It might tip the scales of power once and for all.
Rating: 3 / 5 Stars
