Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #5, the conclusion of the highly anticipated second arc, is here — with the fate of the mythical world of Esseriel hanging in the balance as humans, vampyres, and faeries clash at the legendary City of Four Winds. The story, created by writer James Tynion IV and artist Michael Dialynas with lettering by AndWorld Design, has developed vastly from Wynd’s beginnings as a secretly weirdblooded boy in human society to the scope of a fully-fledged fantasy epic. Now Wynd and his sister Oakley, with the Faerie noble Meriel, the human prince Yorik and his cousin Bastion, along with their closest confidants Thorn and Teek, are the only ones who can prevent an all-out continental war.
After the shocking conclusion of the last issue, Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #5 resumes with Zedra’s vampyres taking Oakley hostage. Elsewhere, Wynd is ambushed by faeries and must unlock the magic within him. Rescue comes in the form of reunion, with heartrending consequences for the newly weirdblooded Thorn. Quickly narrative strands collide in an impossibly high-stakes confrontation atop the Throne in The Sky, and the issue ends with an agonizing cliffhanger that leaves the heroes in grave danger.
Tynion IV’s writing in Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #5 is as strong as ever, bringing plotlines that have been cultivated across the series into sudden and dramatic convergence. It is satisfying and terrifying to see the three-way conflict finally come to a head. There are some incredible moments of emotional payoff, particularly in the reunion of Thorn and his father, who was born into a culture that fears and shuns weirdbloods. The scene reinforces the extended metaphor of weirdbloods reflecting queerness in the real world in a sad, moving, and painfully familiar moment of a father rejecting a son who is now unfamiliar and “lost” to him. Tynion IV ends the series on a crushing cliffhanger that feels abrupt but intriguing.
Dialynas’s artwork is fantastic throughout Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #5, delivering new dramatic and emotional heights to the series. The character design for the series has always been second-to-none. Dialynas makes each character memorable, distinct, and reflective of their personality. The designs for the non-human characters are also extremely impressive, demonstrating admirable creativity and boldness, especially in Wynd’s magical form. Dialynas deserves a huge amount of credit for the emotive character beats in this issue. His incredible and tortured expressions help Tynion IV dive into some really raw territory. Although the action is largely high-octane, some dramatic moments feel a little underplayed, especially one that will have serious long-term consequences for the main cast but quickly passes by in two small panels.
Dialynas demonstrates his great eye for colors, locking Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #5 into an atmospheric world of icy tones that make the issue feel even more foreboding, and AndWorld Design does excellent work with the letters. The use of both upper and lowercase text makes for great contrast and heightens the impact of dramatic moments. They use an entirely different typeset for Wynd’s bestial form to make his voice menacing and ethereal.
Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #5 delivers on its lofty title with a stunning conclusion that brings the conflict that has been brewing all series to a head at last. With all three nations at odds with each other, it remains to be seen how the young protagonists can overcome the threats to Esseriel, especially from such a bleak position. Fans will not want to miss this powerful installment in the story.
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