The Last Wardens from Mad Cave Studios is a co-written splatterpunk fest by Edenfrost‘s Amit Tishler and Elliot Sperl. The pulse pounding artwork from Rui Silveira works with the colorist and letterer to deliver a decent emotional drama. With the preferred viewing experience coming out in March 11 and 12, 2025 now’s the time to pre-order.
The Last Wardens: Synopsis
The Last Wardens plunges readers into the supernatural horror of 1975 Oregon through the eyes of Danielle Pryor. Burdened with a drunk, abusive father and the loss of her brother Bruce in the Vietnam War, Danielle’s life is filled with hardship despite having supportive friends. Just as she’s ready to leave her troubled life behind, her supposedly dead brother returns – but not as she remembered him. And a band of dysfunctional misfits followed him.
A Lead And A Tone
Elliot Sperl and Amit Tishler craft a compelling narrative that deeply connects readers with Danny. Her life is a poignant mix of supportive friends and overwhelming family struggles. The return of Bruce, initially a relief, soon twists into horror, setting a haunting tone for the series.
When the second issue brings this terror for the rest of the town, readers experience what few comforts Danny has slip away. In the panic, Danny and a couple of her friends are able to brave the terrors as best as they can. But the panic is extremely overwhelming, especially on Danny since she brought it to her home. At the very least Danny shows leadership that get people like her friend Keith to act despite his fears. The same can’t be said for all of them like Mark or Laurie. Not that readers blame them; this is a situation that might be too big for a lot of people. Even the titular Wardens.
The Last Wardens Shoehorning In
Speaking of the supernatural misfits… they kind of offset that tone with their rushed introduction. Sure their first pages help with setting up the heavy tone. But when they show off their goofy quirks, it detracts from the otherwise immersive storytelling, making it seem like two stories are competing rather than converging. And the Wardens are losing.
Half of them are standoffish crybabies who act like they know what they’re doing, but they get in everybody’s way. Even themselves. It was only during the middle and last issues did this get any real payoff.
The point Tishler and Sperl try to make with the Wardens are parallels with Danny and her brother. Like Bruce, they’re draftees who got caught up in their leader’s war and all they’ve got to show for it are their monstrous selves. And like Danny, they don’t have anything else going for them other than a hope for something better. Even if though they hate each other less than their leader Whisper.
Only problem is, the pacing of this subplot can be very frustrating. Especially when not read all at once.
Art Says All
Rui Silveira’s artwork masterfully conveys the story’s tension. The use of tilted, uneven panels during Bruce’s transformation amplifies the anticipation and dread. The scene where Bruce contorts and collapses is both grotesque and captivating, with blood seeping into the floor like a sinister fungus. Francesco Segala’s coloring and Frank Cvetkovic’s lettering intensify the horror as the monster takes over Bruce and their home, contrasting starkly with the cooler tones where Danny finds refuge.
Keep A Watchful Eye
The Last Wardens is a promising start to a supernatural horror series. There’s a compelling protagonist and a chilling storyline that blends decent character development with unsettling visuals. But this story’s title group drives a black comedic wedge that feels out of place.
For someone like me who had to wait to get more gratification this gets 8/10 in single issues. If my experience wasn’t soured and I read the album in its entirety, it gets 8.5/10.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.