But therein lies the main flaw of the book"it takes its time to get there, with ample time for a slow-burn relationship development between Scott and Barda. And that part works, but by the time we get there, the book was almost over. When we get to the last two chapters, the book enters speedrun mode, with major reveals and epic battles taking place over the last thirty pages. But as they rush us forward, major questions are left unanswered and characters make decisions that indicate they may not be that interested in the answers. Read Full Review

As a big fan of Mister Miracle and Kirby's Fourth World, I knew I had to check this book out at some point. And even though I'm a little older than the target audience, I'm very happy to report that Johnson and Isles delivered a smart, fun, updated interpretation on the Fourth World.

The relationship between Scott and Barda is captured perfectly, and I also really enjoyed how the story left plenty of space for Scott to learn and grow as the plot unfolded. The story does a great job giving Barda some real pathos as well, to the point her relationship with Scott feels natural, and not forced. The art was also a weirdly perfect blend of Moebius and Jesse Lonergan, which captured my heart almost immediately. Tons of style, expression and movement were apparent on each page.

Kudos to the creative team for putting together such a great entry point into the Fourth World for young adult readers.

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