The final installment of Alterna’s three-issue story, Myth, starts with Sam in the clutches of a mysterious group known only as The Guard. The plucky orphan refuses to accept his imprisonment, however, and his efforts to escape lead him to another prisoner . . . and the reason why he’s been kidnapped. Meanwhile, Annie and the Giant race against time to find Sam before The Guard’s evil plan reaches completion. They must track down another forest denizen, The Warrior, and prepare for a battle to protect the human world from unfathomable evil.
Nothing I read in this issue of Myth surprised me much, given the basic coming of age/child’s wish fulfillment through adventure plot I had seen in the first two volumes, although I loved the minor twist of Annie having been the first child to wander into the woods. To me the most significant part of the showdown involved Sam getting his desire of being important and integral to something only to realize that he really just wanted to belong and have someone he trusted, not be overwhelmingly special. When I saw that he was finally letting Annie into his heart after two issues of distrust towards adults (quite understandably I might add!), I softened. The ending felt right, given that the full three-volume story arc implied that Sam’s deepest desire was a home and family who loved him.
While I didn’t develop much attachment to any of Myth’s characters during the read, given that they each seemed to represent an archetype rather than fully fleshed out characters, I also hoped that Sam would find a safe place where his emotional wounds from life at the orphanage could heal. I can easily see how the cast would appeal to younger readers, as well, since there are probably lots of children who would love to befriend a giant and get the opportunity to save the world. I also appreciated Annie’s ability to be both an adult and not let go of the belief in fantasy represented by the forest. Rather than just fearing the power within it, she faced the forest head on to protect Sam and her home.
Myth’s artwork is a fairly basic black-and-white style that doesn’t emphasize detail, but it gets the important parts across. I especially enjoyed the comical, yet horrific, monster that Sam must escape to try to avoid the resurrection of the Witch Queen. It’s not anything that I’d print out to hang on my wall, but, for a hearty dose of adventure, danger, and mayhem, it does the job handily.
Overall, Myth #3 provides a satisfying ending for the short comic that will especially appeal to younger readers. This series may even be a great gateway into comics for those who like superheroes who are more ordinary than super but still can save the day when needed; however, if you have a phobia of flying, stinging insects, you might want to skip several chunks of the ending . . .
4 Incredibly Disturbing Bee-Wasp-Things out of 5
