Review by Frank Plowright

Supernova begins with Kazu Kibuishi ramping up the threat rather than picking up immediately on the problems ending Firelight. The resistance have found a safe refuge, but the Elf King’s forces are now making their way toward it, yet there’s one hell of a surprise in store. That’s been Kibuishi’s way all the way through Amulet, and he manages it time and again here.

Anyone not starting Amulet with this volume will be concerned about Emily’s transformation during Firelight. Her new form is surely a nod to Jean Grey’s transformation into the Phoenix, as Emily has taken a similar path from good to existential threat, and now has a similar form. Yet as Kibuishi has underlined again and again, no-one is beyond redemption in Amulet.

After making his escape, little was seen of Navin during the previous book, but he’s the focus as Kibuishi surprises again by taking some cast into space. The massive robot Charnon House responded to Navin earlier in the series, and the same control system is supplied on a different robot. There’s the thought that at times Kabuishi just figures out what would be cool to draw and finds a way of working into the story. The same applies to the trail bikes Navin and friends end up using.

As ever, the art is relatively simple for most of the time, but thoughtful in telling the story, and occasionally breaks out into painted spreads as per the sample page. There’s no credit this time for Jason Caffoe, but as he contributed to Firelight and the conclusion in Waverider it’s fair to assume he supplies backgrounds and colours here also.

What Kabuishi packs into each Amulet paperback should be mentioned. Everything moves and changes very quickly, and the cast are always a fair way removed from where they started as each book ends. That’s the case again here as Emily learns what she may become. However, there’s always room for a pleasant interlude scene, such as Aly and Navin taking an overnight stay. If there’s a slight drawback to Kibuishi never forgetting a character, it’s that some drop into supporting roles where their presence is minimal, and that’s been Aly’s fate for the past few books.

By the end everything has been moved into place for an ending, but anyone following the books as issued had one hell of a wait.