Review by Ian Keogh

So far Fire Power has been a series about a warrior reluctantly called back to duty fifteen years after he renounced the ways of combat to raise a family. A stalemate, though, came with a terrible revelation from Master Wei Lun claiming responsibility for the deaths of Owen Johnson’s parents. Robert Kirkman’s clever writing on the cliffhanger ending to Flaming Fist could have been interpreted as personal guilt, but he plays fair, and it’s a literal statement. It causes a schism just at the time unity is most needed, as an unbeatable foe has now revealed itself to the planet.

Kirkman’s rather backed himself into a corner with Fire Power. The threat he’s built is enormous, and that being the case it’s not going to be rapidly defeated. The good guys barely escaped alive after a first encounter, and a second will be decisive one way or another. However, building up toward that second encounter means the first half of Flameout maintains a holding pattern and there’s a feeling of the chapter ending surprises being contrived to accommodate that rather than any great compliance with what’s been established.

The bonus of matters stalling a little is extra pages of Chris Samnee’s excellent art. Moreso than in previous volumes he uses single page illustrations and spreads, but the work rate is phenomenal. You’ll envy the people who end up with the original art framed on their walls. That apart, it’s what we’ve come to expect from Samnee. There’s rock solid storytelling, kinetic action and a beating heart to the entire cast.

Owen being a father plays out all the way through, having been a little sidelined last time, and the family feature strongly, Kirkman having an entire chapter narrated via Doug’s letters back home to his grandfather. It’s a pivotal chapter also, the climax seemingly arriving earlier than expected, but that’s because Kirkman has one good surprise left.

He’s such a good writer that even the first half has several emotional highs, and the second supplies all the thrills the best of Fire Power has rewarded readers with throughout. It’s eventually a page-turning conclusion ticking a lot of value boxes.