To say that this series got complicated after the last issue would be an understatement.  Although the stories have been deep at times of the four children marooned on this island and raised to lead their animal clans, there has always been an unanswered question.  How did the children arrive there?  And where did they come from?  And even maybe where were they supposed to be heading?  The first series focused on the consuming nature of revenge, and the second series focused on more general concepts like loyalty, but the third seems to be tying together two different angles, that peace is a necessity or it will destroy all, but also to answer how this series fits within the bigger universe.  After all this is a “Grimm Fairy Tales Presents …” title, and so far in fourteen issues there has been no sign of Sela or other denizens of Myst.

This issue picks up near where the last left off, with Mowgli abducted by some unknown assailant (seemingly a pirate) who has been playing a role behind the scenes on the island for a while.  While other go to rescue her, the animals of the island continue their fighting, not realizing that it will destroy them all if they cannot band together.  A hasty rescue is conducted for Mowgli (which does not make much sense in an actual timeline), but the heroes and pirates are thrown together.  There are some clever aspects to the characterizations of the characters here, specifically the island humans talking in their animal languages, which was handled well from a technical standpoint as well.

What this issue comes down to though is the launchpad for the final issue.  It is there that readers and fans of these series will finally get a payoff, both what the link to the larger universe entails as well as to see if the residents of the island can find a way to live together peacefully or if violence will consume them all.  As it stands what the series needed was a lead-in to these big reveals and that is what this issue manages in an effective manner.  This is a series where the second to last issue will not be remembered as much as the last, but with this setup it is only for the creative team to bring out the fireworks in the final issue.

Story: Mark L. Miller Art: Michele Bandini
Story: 8.7 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Buy