Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Taarna The Last Taarakian #1 Review
    Review

    Taarna: The Last Taarakian #1 Review

    Matthew PetersonBy Matthew PetersonDecember 28, 20204 Mins Read

    To defend: this is the pact.  But when life loses its value and is taken for naught, then the pact is… to avenge!  Your Major Spoilers review of Taarna: The Last Taarakian #1 from Heavy Metal Magazine awaits!

    You can purchase this issue via the comiXology affiliate link

    TAARNA: THE LAST TAARAKIAN #1

    Writer: Stephanie Phillips
    Artist: Patrick Zircher
    Colorist: Jessica Kholinne
    Letterer: Marshall Dillon
    Editor: Joseph Illidge
    Publisher: Heavy Metal Magazine
    Cover Price: $3.99
    Release Date: December 23, 2020

    Previously in Taarna: The Last Taarakian:  From the death of the last Taarakian and a collapsed universe, Taarna was born.  And now, she returns in a new series of cosmic mystery and battles throughout the multiverse in her war against Kako, the embodiment of chaos.  This is the story of a millennia-old battle between godlike beings, with all sentient life caught in their path.

    “I AM NOT YOUR GOD.”

    Somewhere in the galaxy, on an unnamed world, the population has come to realize that they are doomed.  Their sun is dying, and nothing can save their people now.  A creature named Neeran has to break the news of their impending doom not only to his people but to his young daughter, who cries that she doesn’t want to die, that there must be something that can be done, but Neeran isn’t able to comfort her until a shadow crosses their sun… the shadow of Taarna.  The last Taarakian and her bird-mount fly into space (!!) and she raises her sword much as we saw her do to destroy the Loc-Nar, with similar results.  A huge blast of cosmic probably-magic engulfs her, reigniting the sun and leaving the “goddess” to plummet to the ground below.  When the locals greet her, she ignores them all, stopping only for a drink of water.  As the people herald her as a god, Taarna gathers herself and flies away, ignoring their clamors and cries for aid.  She makes her way back to the temple which we all remember and, yes, takes off her clothes for her trademark languorous swim.  We also meet a creature who not only tries to protect her but narrates the issue.  As we fade to black, a familiar-looking green sphere is up to no good.

    YES, SHE SPEAKS

    I honestly didn’t think this book would be able to take the Taarna of ‘Heavy Metal’ and make her work.  Honestly, she’s not exactly a traditional comic book hero, but Phillips scripting is really well-handled, showing her as a true force of nature.  Keeping up the terse (but not silent) characterization from her however-many-minutes of film fame, Taarna’s characterization is compelling but decidedly anti-heroic.  I’m also impressed with the art, especially the full-page debut of our main character and her flying friend.  It captures the grandeur of the movie’s art while adding in texture and additional nuance, and gave me goosebumps.  Zircher captures the essence of the character’s design without adding unnecessary touches, which allows for a balance of the animation style of the source material and his more detailed work here.  The only real complaint that I have about the story artwise comes in a couple of awkward transitions as she leaves the planet and returns to her temple, which seem like they may have been intentionally made obscure.  Either way, it’s a great looking issue.

    BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE

    I had low expectations for Taarna: The Last Taarakian #1 but I’m happy to be proven very wrong by excellent art and a truly well-written story, making for a beautiful reading experience and 4.5 out of 5 stars overall.  I can’t tell you how happy I am to read a story that truly makes this character work, as I haven’t been the biggest fan of some of her previous continuation stories.  If you’re a fan of ‘Heavy Metal’, this continuation should be on your radar, but even if you’re not, it’s a pretty great comics book.


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    TAARNA: THE LAST TAARAKIAN #1

    90%
    90%
    Awesome

    Yes, I'm a complete mark for the 1981 Heavy Metal movie, but this is visually impressive and quite well-written. I'm sold.

    • Writing
      9
    • Art
      9
    • Coloring
      9
    • User Ratings (1 Votes)
      9.5
    heavy metal Jessica Kholinne Joseph Illidge Marshall Dillon patrick zircher Review Stephanie Phillips Taarna
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleMajor Spoilers Question of the Day: Best Of Them All Edition
    Next Article COMICS PORTAL: ‘Escape from 2020’
    Matthew Peterson
    • Website
    • Twitter

    Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.

    Related Posts

    Major Spoilers Podcast #1133: The Fight of the Century

    Read More

    Geek History Lesson – Wakanda MEGA EPISODE (Black Panther, Shuri, Dora Milaje, Ironheart)

    Read More

    Munchkin Land #726: Marvel Champions: Civil War

    Read More

    Comments are closed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    6.0
    July 8, 2025

    JSA #9 Review

    7.0
    July 7, 2025

    X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1 Review

    5.7
    July 6, 2025

    Gehenna: Naked Aggression #1 Review

    7.0
    July 6, 2025

    Retro Review: Big Apple Comix (September 1975)

    6.0
    July 5, 2025

    Wolverines and Deadpools #1 Review

    Patreon Support
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT