"Heart of Fire"
Writer: Stuart Moore, Martin Montiel, J.C. Buelna
Artists: Martin Montiel(p), J.C. Buelna(i), Mike Garcia(c)
Publisher: Penny Farthing
The Aesirians a race of higher evolved creatures protected humanity by transporting the survivors of the Jekkran assault to the fabled land of Zendra. In the first issue of Zendra, a Maker created a new type of human. A hybrid who possessed maker and human DNA he named Halle. Halle fuses with an young Aesirian named Tau, and together they become Zendra's champion.
In this issue, Halle and a team of her fellow super-powered Zendrans use a transport to bury into the heart of Zendra in order to find the machine that runs the planet with the hopes of stopping the devastating and strange assaults topside. The main plot isn't neglected by Stuart Moore, but the characterization outshines all of the science fiction trappings.
Halle and Tau we learned have had more than an argument, and their rift comes as a surprise since Halle seemed destined to be who she became. Through a different type of disagreement, we also learn that Halle and her once lover Aleph split. In a previous issue, he seemed envious of Halle's powers and regretful of his own lacking, but here we learn that Aleph really wasn't worthy of Halle's love, and we learn why. Halle's friendship with the teleporter Shada grows, but Shada cannot see the attraction young mechanical genius Robyn has for her.
If the interplay seems like a soap opera, do not fret. Action abounds as do heroics and a modicum of humor. The artwork is as usual breathtaking and absolutely surpassing the rather subpar cover. Halle and Shada are both proportionate. Robyn is well scaled by comparison. All the characters exhibit subtle facial expressions save for when Halle calls upon her mixed DNA to solve problems, but that's understandable given her reptilian appearance. The setting evokes temperature and the alien. The transport is a nice throwback to original science fiction where Zendra's heart lies.
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