Invisible Kingdom Vol. 3: In Other Worlds
G. Willow Wilson, writer; Christian Ward, artist
Berger Books, 2021
Wilson and Ward's epic space opera ends with a literal bang in this final installment. Due to the pandemic the decision was made to publish it as a single graphic novel rather than collecting individual monthly issues. But it is organized in chapters that make it effectively issues #11-15; it seems likely that the final arc was already plotted out that way, perhaps even partially complete before the plan changed to publishing it all at once.
The narrative resumes with Grix, Vess and the rest of the crew of the Sundog safe at the Point of No Return on some kind of terraformed asteroid or moon which the Siblings of Rebirth call the Biosphere. The Siblings claim to be opposed to the corrupt Renunciation, and they want Vess to join the cause so they can attack it from within. They quickly convince Vess that they are on a mission from God, but Grix has doubts (complicated by the fact that Vess rejects her when she declares her love).
It all comes to a head on the planet Duni, home to both the headquarters of the megacorporation Lux (and its leader Director Prime) and the monastery of the Siblings of Severity (and its leader Mother Proxima) . Threatened by the Biosphere, Vess and Grix find themselves on the same side again. The big explosion at the climax plays right into Ward's strengths, all bright psychedelic colors and motion. A satisfying conclusion, at least for me (I have seen other commentary that thought there were too many unresolved questions).
Replies