Murder Falcon #8 Brings It All To A Rocking And Resonant End
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead]
Brooticus and the Tokyo Philharmonic make their last charge against Magnum Khaos and the Feldar. Jake and Murder Falcon need to get to the Horn of the Dead; that’s the only thing that can save our world from the Feldar. However, Jake’s condition has gotten a lot worse since the last battle, and he and Murder Falcon will need to take on Magnum Khaos himself if they’re going to be able to reach the Horn of the Dead.
Murder Falcon #8 marks the final issue of the series, bringing the story of Jake, Murder Falcon, and Brooticus to its conclusion and the war against the Veldar to its climax.
Like the rest of Murder Falcon, #8 downright shocked me with how emotionally deep it goes. The ending itself, without spoiling anything, is both heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s an homage to not only metal music, but to music as a form of expression and the fact that we still choose to make it in the face of mortality, violence, and misery.
Magnum Khaos simply represents that misery and violence. He is the physical manifestation of the void that tells people no and to not create. Murder Falcon has been telling the reader that about the Veldar from the first issue, but that fact becomes more poignant in the finale.
Daniel Warren Johnson’s artwork continues to wow with this ending. He makes this finale as visually creative, impressive, and effecting as possible. The fight between Murder Falcon and Magnum Khaos is intense and visceral. The emotions expressed by Jake and his friends hit home. Also, there’s the aircraft carrier amp–that’s amazing too. Mike Spicer’s color work wraps it all in a great palette that builds and maintains the atmosphere well.
Murder Falcon #8 brings the series to a powerful end. The story of Jake, Brooticus, and Murder Falcon is deeply affecting, relatable, and poignant. What could have just been some dumb fun with a metal theme proved to be a resonant story about making art in the face of death itself. This one gets a strong recommendation. Give it a read.
Murder Falcon #8 comes to us from writer, artist, and cover artist Daniel Warren Johnson, color artist Mike Spicer, and letterer Rus Wooton.