I couldn't afford the poster-edition variant edition of this comic book, and I wasn't in the mood to disassemble this one in order to lay out the pages in the larger format. Fortunately, one needn't go to such lengths to enjoy this unusual but captivating series finale or to appreciate the ambitious, experimental and eye-opening nature of this project. There's a wonderfully historical and spiritual tone to the script here, and the psychdelic artwork is an absolute treat while at the same time challenging the reader to pick out the minute and informative detail on every page. Even those who haven't been reading this series would be well advised to check out this truly unique and surprisingly accessible final issue.
Promethea's naked, transluscent form glides over a sea of color and currents of simple shapes as she explains the nature of reality, imagination and magic. She speaks of the various men whose theories and experiences helped to prove the universe's magical qualities, and how the rudimentary beginnings of science were more in tune with the magic and spirituality of reality. Promethea speaks of recurring themes in myth and religion and of her own origins as a creature of imagination and magic.
Williams has been providing unconventional work throughout much of this series, and the finale is, of course, no different. Images connected with the dialogue and narration on each page are to be found in the backgorund, and I'm struck by the strong likenesses of historical and literary figures throughout the issue. Most striking is the ebb and flow of color from start to finish (or from finish to start, depending on how one reads the issue). I was also struck by Promethea's natural beauty; she's clearly nude here, but there's never a sense of eroticism at play. Sexuality, yes, but not in a gratuitous sense.
There's a matter-of-fact tone in the script that sets this issue apart from those that came before it. This series has been an education on magic as a belief system, and this issue is our final lecture on the subject, bringing all of Moore's points together. I love how the script connects seemingly unconnected elements, how it explores that the overwhelming number of coincidences in nature and the myths man has created over time point to the fact that they're mnot coincidences at all.
In this final issue -- designed to coincide with the final "path" of the tarot, number 32 -- Promethea acknowledges she is a creation, a character in a fiction, but she also maintains that she is quite real in her own way. The reader is acknowledged to be a key player in Promethea's own drama. Moore, through his creation, posits that perception is reality. Not only are he and Williams creators of the comic book, but the reader is as well. Simply reading Promethea makes the character real, gives her life. To exist is to perceive, and to perceive is to create a reality for ourselves. Moore offers fascinating theories such as these and delves into language, magic and so much more. There's no story here, per se, but a wealth of intriguing information. 10/10
