The art is still great, but the story is confusing and the characters muddled. A lot of bad things are happening. I imagine this is a book that actually suffers from being collected into one volume, with more shock lending to the gravitas between end-page reveals. At this point the end-game was confusing at best, and hints weren't only unhelpful in figuring things out, but also made weighed the story down in yawn-worthy confusion. I'm not sure it's worth wading through for the end volume, but well... I got there, at least. ( )

Even my interest in the characters I do like in this series feels more intellectual than emotional; Laura is a fangirl who became what she idolized, and I like the process of her decay... but I don't really feel it. I can't help but feeling that this story about the "darkness" and secret, ancient pacts doesn't really have anything to do with what the series's hook was: what if popstars were literal gods? I guess I want to read a comic about the power of idolization, using godhood as a literal and metaphorical take on it. Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie don't have to make this comic if they don't want to of course; that's clearly not what they're doing here now that I'm six volumes into it, but it's what I thought I was getting at first, and I think I would have been more into that than whatever we're getting instead. Like yes it's shocking who Woden really was... but I also didn't really care, and I kind of rolled my eyes because he was barely even a character anyway. He could have been a great way to engage themes—how does academia perceive this phenomenon versus fandom?—but once you get to the reveal, you realize the character was only there to be in the reveal, he doesn't have any significance on his own, and that's why his early appearances were so fleeting.

So it's all a shame because it feels like a waste of the clear talent of everyone involved. But anyway I have all the volumes and I got them for free and there's only three to go and they read pretty easy and Jamie McKelvie's art is always nice to look out, so I will keep on going until the end.

I liked the first volume of Imperial Phase because it seemed like things were starting to build up, but then this volume comes out and I'm not sure what is going on again. I feel like some stories were lost too. It's not a bad comic book, just not as great anymore. The art on the other hand is one of the reasons I'm still reading this book. I can't look away! ( )

Wow what an amazing turn of events! Great story as usual but two twists in it that I did not see coming. First was the reveal of who Woden is... and the very end .... I can't say anything without giving it away but man... I need to know what happens next! Awesome art and I'm very sad about one of the deaths... although it was deserved. :( ( )

Wow. Just... wow. ( )