Calum Petrie reviews The Many Deaths of Laila Starr #5…
The final issue of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is set 28 years after the events of issue #4, where Darius is now an elderly man who has yet to create immortality, and Laila Starr is on her way to meet with the elderly man to explain why the creation of immortality is a terrible idea. The story has been an emotional rollercoaster for the pair of them, both have encountered new and strong emotions and regret, and the conclusion to this melancholy filled series has certainly left an impression on myself.
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is truly something special, a unique tale of two lives lived in regret and left searching for answers. Author Ram V has left me with a punch to the gut, delivered from some outstanding storytelling. The artwork from Filipe Andrade is just an absolute spectacle to behold, and the pair together have created a “must read” story that I will never stop recommending to anyone and everyone who will give me the time of day. Ram V has crafted a tale so emotional and profound, I would be surprised if this was not his magnum opus.
The tale of a god of death out for revenge against a man who’s destined to create immortality is an extremely bold and epic sounding pitch. The story itself is broken down into a complex series of morality tales, and while the premise sounds extremely pretentious, it is anything but that. The lives that are led within this story are wonderfully complex and human tales, with experiences many of the readers will relate to. It has been an emotional and conflicting tale, where pity and sympathy triumphed over anger and revenge long enough to allow compassion to break through.
I realise I may have got lost in my own thoughts there, so thank you for staying with me through that. The series is a “must read” in my opinion, it is something I will certainly purchase when the full collected edition comes out. This will be on a bookshelf in my office and whenever someone talks about comics being for children, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr will be presented an example of how storytelling is a medium not just reserved for books, TV and film.
I cant say too much about the issue itself without spoiling much for the reader, so I will just advise everyone to give this series a real chance and open yourself up to an incredibly powerful story.
Rating 10/10
Calum Petrie – You can follow me on Twitter – @Cetrie