Kiss has been a bit of an odd series from the get-go. Tom Waltz and Chris Ryall have alternated writing and editing duties between them, switching places every two issue story arc. A different artist also comes on for each two issue arc. Now the series concludes, with Waltz writing and Kenneth Loh handling pencils and inks. Joan I. Guardiet is on colors. Here’s the official description of Kiss #8 from IDW:

“Into the Void,” Part 2! The Four-Who-Are-One and the Destroyer battle it out in a grand finale of cosmic proportions!  The Demon, the Starchild, the Celestial, and the Catman—can they come together as never before to repel darkest evil from the universe once and for all?!

Grand climax battle issues in comics are often hit or miss (no pun intended). The writer has to find a balance between the fisticuffs that make the conclusion seem suitably epic and the dialogue and quiet pauses needed to give us a sense of closure. In issue #8, Waltz and Ryall deliver one of the better such issues that I’ve seen. While most of it is taken up by the fight between the Four and the Destroyer, there are undercurrents of character, particularly involving Celestial, that are never fully expressed, but deepen the tone of the book all the same. Not all of the non-battle elements succeed – Catman’s concerns that the Four are just being used never really bear out (well, they do, but in a very distant, neutral way), and the twist ending, revealing the Elder’s secret weapon, is a nice touch, but is also off-center of everything else we’ve seen. Still, the balance of the story elements is nicely maintained.

Speaking of balance, the cyclical nature of the fight between good and evil is hardly an original concept, and the metaphor for that fight that Waltz uses has also been done, but never have I seen that metaphor taken so literally. While I’m ambivalent (leaning toward happy) with it, I think it will be a pretty divisive point among readers.

I’ve been pretty impressed with the different artists that have worked on this series, but I think Kenneth Loh is my favorite. There’s a cartoonish quality to his art that is great for showing characters who also happen to exist (sort of) in real life. It’s always uncomfortable when real people make overly-realistic appearances in comics (imagine Bryan Hitch drawing that terrifyingly deep V-neck. *shudder*), but Loh’s style avoids that, and also suits the writing’s somewhat humorous depictions of evil and combat. He does veer into realism with the faces sometimes, but it’s forgivable.  He also draws some bat-demons that are dense and squat in form, but light and dynamic in movement; a great combination.

 As you might expect for a final issue like this, a lot of the story depends on what has happened before. That said, if you’ve read any of the series’ earlier issues, you’ll probably know what’s going on. With fun, well-balanced storytelling, this issue is definitely worth picking up. Waltz, Ryall, and Loh have gone out with a bang.

4/5

Zac Boone isn’t the biggest KISS fan, but he still likes to Rock and Roll All Nite. Follow him on twitter @gingitsune23.