Review: SKYWARD #15
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer:Â Joe Henderson
Artists:Â Lee Garbett and Antonio Fabela
Colors: Antonio Fabela
Letters: Simon Bowland
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
Summary
“Youre going to work for your freedom Roger Barrow. With us! One tomato at a time.” –
One day, gravity on earth suddenly became a fraction of what it is now. Twenty years later, humanity has adapted to its new low-gravity reality. And to Willa Fowler, a woman born just after G-day, it’s a pretty awesome adventure. You can fly through the air! But you can also die if you jump too high. But in the preceding issues, she has stumbled into a dangerous plan to bring gravity back that could get her killed. Skyward is an adventure-filled exploration of our world turned upside down and a young woman’s journey to find her place in it. And this fifteen issue story arc concludes with issue #15.
“FIX THE WORLD,” This issue is the conclusion of the series.  In the aftermath of war, how does Willa pick up the pieces? How does she deal with this very different status quo? And what does Willa want to do with her life now that her world’s completely changed?
Positives
As a reviewer, I am still miffed that I did not discover this wonderful premise earlier as well as this comic. Willa is the perfect sound of reason in a time where cities are in turmoil due to not having gravity. And the overarching crisis of agriculture versus urban life. The city needs food yet finds itself in a moral struggle in allowing the farmers to use land they can cultivate to feed the masses. The story telling is simplistic and full of “Aha” moments and you find yourself wondering why this has not been explored before in any genre of reading!
It’s a love story in the midst of a war. And while it may seem cliche, it works very well. It’s about fear, and how humanity can over come it. And its about hope and empathy! And making the world the best it can be!
The main villain, Roger Barrow, has been incarcerated. But I love his punishment. After all the grief he has extolled upon the farmers and people in the city, he is sentenced to work with the farmers to work the land and carry out his prison term “one tomato at a time”.
Great job Lee Garbett and Antonio Fabela. It must be difficult to draw each panel with the effects of no gravity. To have to “float” everyone in each panel is to be commended!
Negatives
This title is already over and it should begin a new chapter. By breaking up the power couple of Willa and Edison, that was a tough move. While the authors acknowledge that it is Willa’s story, they found themselves in the adversity. It is hoped that the authors will revisit this in further adventures. I hate that this is the end of the run for Skyward!
Verdict
This comic is pretty awesome and I had to go back and read the premise of the entire comic to ‘get’ what has been going on to this point. But taking away gravity from the Earth…what a great concept to build on and what a great comic playground to work with! It was worth exploring back and let’s hope you add Skyward to your books to read as it is really easy to look past a lot of different comics these days based on cover art or a thumb through.  Here’s hoping you will gather issues #1 – #14 to accompany your purchase of #15. Or perhaps Image will publish a Trade Paperback as this book is easily a gem on a bookshelf!
