MTHR has done all she can to prepare the coven to face unspeakable threats, and now they must do so … alone. Adri, Em and Michele prepare for a final confrontation that holds not only wytchkind in the balance but multiple planes of existence. They have each other, but will that be enough to take down Eve and stop the endless midnight? Bytchcraft #5 is written by Aaron Reese, illustrated by Lema Carril, colored by Bex Glendining and lettered by Morgan Martinez for Mad Cave Studios.
From the moment I encountered other Black queer creators such as author Jacque Aye, comic book artist D.J. Kirkland and game developer Pyon, I believed that we, Black queer folks, have been and always will be magical. Even if we have scars, even if we aren’t perfect, we are still magical, especially when we uplift each other. It is this lesson that the wytch coven of Bytchcraft must learn in this final issue of the series.
The issue begins with a gorgeous flashback to MTHR, back when she was made of three women who served as the wytch coven’s birth mothers. We see the wytch coven as babies as their mothers send them to safety alongside their familiars, just before Eve Morningstar attacks. This flashback does a fantastic job of fleshing out MTHR’s legacy and how her powers and her fight against Eve were handed down to the wytch coven.
Back in the present, the wytch coven must literally arm themselves before they can take down Eve once and for all. It is here that I want to once again shout out Lema Carril’s character designs and Bex Glendining’s color work, because the glow-up the wytch coven receives courtesy of the goddess Sekhmet makes them look fabulous AF. According to a recent interview at Geeks Out, Carril said they had a great time designing their outfits based on references that the late Aaron Reese sent them. That passion really shows in this issue as well as throughout the series. Moreover, I enjoyed seeing Morgan Martinez’s lettering for Sekhmet’s speech bubbles; the orange outline contrasts the black bubbles and white letters in an eerie and mystical way that suits the character.
Right before the final battle, there is a great exchange of dialogue for which I want to thank Reese. Adriyel states, “The wytches, queers, and the freaks always save the day. When hasn’t the world been on our shoulders?” That’s when Michele replies, “True, but if not us, then who?” Misfits coming together to save the world is a tale as old as time, and it is an epic and heavy burden. I am grateful that this series has taken time to show the nuances of being Black and queer because we truly contain multitudes.
As for the final battle, there is a double-page spread that packs a punch in more ways than one. We see the wytch coven summoning dead spirits, magic blasts and butterflies to battle Eve, and it is as chaotic and visually striking as it sounds. The artwork, the colors and the lettering are at their brightest and boldest here, and it enhances the fierce character development of the wytch coven.
In the aftermath, the coven must mourn, rebuild and make a new home. The final panels of this comic reflect some of the work so many Black queer folks have had to do over the years. One way or another, we endure, survive and thrive. Bytchcraft shows that no matter how much trauma and loss we face, we can still be magical. Even if we are too much for the world, Black queer folks can find solace, community and family in each other.
Latonya "Penn" Pennington is a freelance contributor whose comics criticism can be found at Women Write About Comics, Comic Book Herald, Newsarama and Shelfdust, among others. Follow them @wordsfromapenn.com on Bluesky.
