Art by: Bernard Chang
Colors by: Marcel Maiolo
Letters by: Janice Chiang
Cover art by: Bernard Chang (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: October 4, 2022
Monkey Prince #7 takes Marcus's latest adventure to the ocean depths as he searches for his parents, employed by Black Manta, searched for another demon released by Black Manta, and stops a giant piece of his (spiritual father's) staff before it grows too big to control. Oh, Aquaman and Mera are here, too.
Is It Good?
Oi! Monkey Prince #7 s a lot to take in; depending on your point of view, that may be a good thing or a bad thing. Yang's frantic, chaotic storytelling somewhat mimics the frantic, chaotic nature of the Monkey Prince, so in a sense, the issue is tonally correct. However, Yang packs in so many threads happening all at once, you feel like the heart of the issue is lost among so much noise.
Yang deserves credit for swinging for the fences. Under Shifu Pigsy's watchful guidance, Marcus has to contend with Atlantean Royalty while chasing down Black Manta to stop the villain's plan to use a demon as a weapon while also trying to get his parents away from Black Manta as the villains hired help. Among the chaos, a splinter of the Monkey King's magic staff, lodged in a dragon's eye - a dragon who happens to live in a section of Atlantis among a small colony of dragons - suddenly decides to grow to mountainous proportions, risking a catastrophe.
Try saying all that five times fast. Ahh, too late. The Monkey Prince already beat you to it.
That last statement sounds like a juvenile joke because that's how this comic reads - as a loosely connected series of wow moments barely connected by anything resembling a meaningful plot. Monkey Prince, in particular, treats everything happening (except saving his parents) as un-serious as he can get away with. You never feel like any of the threats are real, Marcus doesn't treat the harm that could befall bystanders with any urgency, and the entire issue comes across with all the gravity of a mildly amusing video game.
In fairness, the dialog is good, and the action is filled with enough energy to charge your smartphone for a year, so if you're looking for fast-paced, mindless fun, you'll be happy with this issue.
It helps to have Chang and Maiolo on art as the action and character designs pop with life and movement. Some of the physics doesn't work out (how do you create a cloud at the bottom of the ocean?), but again, this book will satisfy you as long as you turn your brain off.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces:
Monkey Prince #7 is a loud, energetic, mindless, chaotic brand of fun. The art pops with excitement, and the dialog is good, but the chaotic story is overstuffed with too many things happening all at once, and the main characters treat everything happening with all the seriousness of a video game.
6.5/10
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