ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Strange Academy,’ Issue #18

Strange Academy #18 is published by Marvel Comics and written by Skottie Young, with art by Humberto Ramos, colors by Edgar Delgado, and letters by Clayton Cowles. Having rallied most of her fellow students to stage a walk-out, Emily now ponders what to do next. But she isn’t the only one searching for answers. Meanwhile, still troubled by the dark prophecy surrounding him, Doyle retraces some steps in the hopes of learning more about what is to come.

This issue opens at the now mostly empty Strange Academy. The teachers are at a loss regarding how to handle their current predicament. After all, it’s difficult to bring your kids back to class when you don’t know where those kids are. This brief opening sequence does a good job of establishing the faculty’s attitude toward the current state of unrest at the school. The only missed opportunity I have with this is the silent presence of Magik. With her many years of association with the various mutant schools, even more than once being one of the problem children, I would’ve expected her to play a vocal part in this sequence.

From there, Strange Academy #18 returns to the kids and their rather ingenious choice of hideouts. While much of the student body seems to be reveling in their newfound civil disobedience, Emily and other core members of the group are struggling with what the next step is. After all, rebellions are built on momentum, and if the momentum dies, so too does the rebellion. Just as the discourse reaches a fever pitch with the absent students, back at the academy, Doyle makes a startling revelation that he searches for confirmation about. This revelation is handled perfectly. I love what Young does with the moment, as it delivers the perfect surprise that, once revealed, you don’t know how you didn’t see it coming.

Strange Academy #18 ends with a confrontation that sets the story on a whole new path as secrets are revealed, and actions are taken that may have lasting effects on all those involved. While the moment has lots of action, it ended up lacking a bit of the emotion I would’ve hoped for. As the closing chapter of this leg of Strange Academy‘s journey, it delivers plenty of spectacle and leaves the reader wondering what will come next but falls short of delivering on the emotion that has always made this book one of my favorites.

Ramos’s lines do a fantastic job of conveying the story’s energy and tension to the reader. The reader’s perspective is always chosen in a way that immerses them within the scenes, making the story feel as if it is happening around the reader rather than in front of them. Combining with the fantastic line art is Delgado’s colors. While the colors throughout the book are chosen and implemented wonderfully, it is in the ending that the artist truly delivers. The mood in the story’s final confrontation is enhanced perfectly by the color choices Delgado makes here. Rounding out the book’s presentation is Cowles’s lettering. This book continues to be my favorite work from this artist. The letters lean into the energy of the moments, augmenting them nicely.

So while Strange Academy #18 didn’t quite deliver everything I would’ve asked for from this leg of the journey’s finale issue, it brought more than enough to have me eagerly awaiting the day that Strange Academy #1 graces my LCS’s shelves.

Strange Academy #18 is available July 6th, wherever comics are sold.