The mysteries surrounding the Morning Glory Academy seem to be leading toward another tragedy, but is it one you should care about?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

The Ceremony.

The seemingly bottomless pit full of questions continues to grow and expand in this latest outing, as our protagonists come upon some seriously engaging turns.  Unlike last month’s issue there were some answers here topped off with an strong finish that’s sure to please longtime fans while simultaneously frustrating them with the possibilities ahead.  In short: this is a complex comic book that’s more than worth your hard-earned money.

Nick Spencer simply rocks this issue’s script with some rousing character development and revelations that are intriguing enough to forgive the barrage of questions that bubble to the surface when you close the final page.  From start to finish this release is nothing short of a page turner.  Our heroic students are facing some tremendous odds, and I got to say the temple motif that was added just made the whole thing even more interesting.  It’s a strong tale that deals with some very complex emotions and realities but in the end the excellent characterizations and expert dialogue absolutely delivers on every possible level.

Joe Eisma continues to dazzle with some lavishly detailed and fully-realized panels that will draw readers into the fray.  His work as series artist has had some missteps, but this has got to be one of his better outings.  The characters and the backgrounds are fully-formed and responsive to the narrative in a way that just fits the script perfectly.  Beyond that though there are a handful of shots that illustrate this talented penciler’s ability to take a mundane action sequence and turn into a dynamic moment that simply captivates as it carries the necessary weight of the moment.

At the end of the day, Morning Glories #22 is a very strong issue that further cements the prowess of this creative team while expanding the narrative scope of their compelling series.  Highly recommended.

4.5/5