Red Thorn #13 (2016) – Comic Review & Breakdown
🧬 Genre
Urban Fantasy • Supernatural Thriller • Mythological Drama
A dark, mature tale blending ancient Celtic mythology with gritty modern storytelling, Red Thorn is a genre-defying exploration of gods, demons, and the mortal world caught in their storm.
🎭 Main Characters
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Isla Mackintosh – A Glaswegian artist whose drawings mysteriously manifest into reality. She unknowingly awakens a god and becomes the key to the world's fate.
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Thorn – A charismatic, ancient demigod of chaos and rebellion, imprisoned for centuries and now unleashed into modern-day Scotland.
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Cadros – Thorn’s brother and opposite—a god of control and order, determined to prevent Thorn’s rise at all costs.
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Tarek – Isla’s boyfriend, who finds himself caught in a spiritual and emotional crossfire that forces a life-altering decision.
✍️ Writer
David Baillie
A Scottish comic book writer known for weaving deep mythology with emotionally resonant characters. In Red Thorn, Baillie taps into his heritage to explore themes of destiny, power, and rebellion through a unique Glaswegian lens.
🎨 Artist
Meghan Hetrick
Her evocative linework and expressive characters bring raw emotion and surreal beauty to every panel. Hetrick’s art bridges the mystical and the modern with astonishing ease.
🖌️ Colorist
Steve Oliff
A master of mood, Oliff uses bold and vibrant tones to enhance the magical realism and intense emotional stakes throughout the issue.
📝 Editor Details
Shelly Bond – As a veteran editor of Vertigo, Bond’s influence is seen in the sharp pacing and mature, layered storytelling. She ensures the narrative maintains its emotional core while diving into mythic territory.
🏢 Publisher and Brand
DC Comics – Vertigo Imprint
Red Thorn is part of the Vertigo line, known for mature, thought-provoking stories that often explore themes beyond the superhero genre.
📅 Release Year
2016
📖 Brief Plot Summary
In Red Thorn #13, the saga reaches a climactic end. As Isla’s connection to divine power intensifies, her role as a potential world-shaper becomes undeniable. The ancient rivalry between Cadros and Thorn erupts into a final confrontation, testing allegiances and challenging fate itself. Tarek must make a soul-defining choice, one that could save or doom their reality. With the veil between gods and mortals thinning, every decision echoes across worlds.
🌀 Notable Arcs or Storylines
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The Awakening of Isla – Her journey from artist to demi-divine being sets the entire series in motion.
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Gods Among Us – The ancient feud between Cadros and Thorn explores philosophical contrasts between control and freedom.
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The Fall and Rise of Glasgow – The city becomes a character in itself, acting as the stage where myth and modernity violently collide.
🔮 Fan Theories or Interpretations
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Some fans believe Isla is not just a creator but a reincarnation of an ancient goddess, possibly the Morrigan, which would explain her escalating powers.
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Others suggest that Thorn’s rebellion mirrors historical uprisings in Scottish lore, tying him to real mythic rebels of the past.
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There’s also speculation that Tarek’s choice is a meta-commentary on free will vs. divine predestination, a theme echoed throughout the series.
🧾 Review Summary
⭐ Rating: 8.5/10
Red Thorn #13 delivers a compelling and bittersweet finale, rich in emotion and mythological weight. David Baillie’s writing remains sharp and deeply thematic, while Meghan Hetrick’s illustrations radiate with life and surrealism. The interplay between divine lore and personal stakes gives every moment urgency. Isla’s growth into a force of destiny is both empowering and tragic. The ending leaves just enough ambiguity to spark thought and debate. A haunting, beautiful close to a criminally underrated series.
🔥 Verdict: A mythic showdown wrapped in heartfelt storytelling—visually stunning and spiritually stirring.
💬 “The gods walk among us, and they look a lot like us too... until they don't.”
Comic Resource / Read Online (External Source)
