DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR, Vol. 5 (comic) (DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR (comic), 5)

I KNEW this volume would be intense because of how volume four ended, but I was SOOOO unprepared because having Heli actually FIGHT and TAKE DOWN his friends had my stomach turning and me forgetting how to breathe! It was pure pain to read and felt so much agony and heartbreak and had to keep holding my breath when turning the page because SURELY it will get better! SURELY someone will step in and help!And thankfully, YES! There was help but there was so much pain and blood to get to that point that while I know I'll reread this series again in the future, I don't know if I have the heart to reread this specific opening again. Truly one of the most brutal and absolutely crushing scenes I've ever read in a story and can only hope we will NEVER see something like it again!I mean near the end with the new foes, it SEEMS a little bit hopeless, but it is NOTHING compared to the beginning. I don't know how these guys will fight their way out of this, but the final line from Heli on the last page was EVERYTHING, and have no doubts these guys will be strong overcomers against these foes!Rewinding a little bit, I loved how our werewolf friends were on the scene again! While they are not my favorite simply because I love Heli and the gang so much, I do really like Khan and am deeply interested in seeing how he will play a future role. I think it's already been hinted at and Khan himself has an idea, but I don't think either of us knows how that role will unfold. I can only hope he and all the werewolves will be okay and have been deeply relieved that their quest to find their friends who have been captured has not been lost in this story.As always, the action is SOOOO on point! I can't get enough of it despite that there was a lot more blood this volume and people getting punched in the face A LOT. LOL! But it's worth seeing these guys fight back and go find Sooha!!Definitely a series I am continuing to love as each volume has gotten better and better and VERY intense (which has been every volume already, but now it's like times under LOL)! I'm hoping for the best for Sooha and that everyone will come out unscathed!