Chalawan Uranus: Rise of the Half-Humanoids (Part 4)
Created/Written by Janice Dennie, Art/Letters by Stanley Obende, Colors by Toyin Ajetunmobi (Kente Comics, 2024)
Synopsis
Chalawan Uranus, Star Angel, Firebird, Agent Eris, and Emperor Norcemo protect the Earth from a threat coming from a Black Hole in the Ursa Galaxy. They work together to battle this threat. In this issue, you also get to see what the Half-Humanoids look like and what they can do to protect the Earth.
Chadawan Uranus: Rise of the Half Humanoids is the latest installment in the Ursa series, picking up right where the previous issue left off. The Ursa series has a unique storytelling style with both its strengths and weaknesses. This being the fourth in the series follows GIRL FROM XIRATHA #1, FIREBIRD Red Feather of Death #2, and STAR ANGEL Defender of the Universe #3, each issue introduces a new protagonist and is almost structured like a one-shot comic, but the overarching narrative connects the stories, with each protagonist adding to the depth of the world. This approach enriches the world-building as the series progresses, but it also means readers need to be familiar with prior issues to fully appreciate the narrative.
In this latest issue, we are given a backstory for the new protagonist, Chadawan Uranus, before diving headfirst into the action. This backstory sets the stage for the fast-paced journey that follows.
Having read all four books in the series, I can confidently say the storytelling and pacing improve with every issue. Rise of the Half Humanoids introduces the series’ first male lead, and Chadawan is handled with care, shining just as brightly as his predecessors.
Chadawan is an orphan raised by two mermaid-like entities, and the dynamic within this pseudo-family is heartwarming and well-executed. As he embarks on his hero’s journey, Chadawan is portrayed as brilliant, selfless, and confident. His softer, more loving side is revealed in a few touching scenes with his love interest.
Fans of the series will recognize her as one of the earlier protagonists ‘Firebird’, a woman with the fascinating condition of being untouchable. Their interactions hint at a shared history, which adds an intriguing dynamic, though Chadawan’s sudden appearance in the narrative feels a little jarring in this regard.
The artwork in this issue is phenomenal—there wasn’t a single page that felt subpar. However, there are a few areas that could have been handled differently. For example, the main antagonist could have used more page time to develop their presence, and his design felt a bit underwhelming compared to the other characters. That said, the overall quality of the art is fantastic. The colors are vibrant and clean, perfectly complementing the tone of the story. The character designs are outstanding, with the mermaid moms being a visual standout.
This review was written by author and indie publisher Alan Lynch. Alan is known for Megascope/Abram Books debut title Hardears. His latest project, Neon Ghost is currently on Kickstarter.
