The Forged #13 — Greg Rucka’s Empire-Toppling Finale Hits the Shelf

The final arc of Greg Rucka and Mike Henderson’s sharp sci-fi war drama is here. The Forged #13 brings the five women of Team Scimitar-3 to the brink of revolution against the Empire they once served, balancing high-stakes battlefield tension with the series’ signature wry humor.

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you put a razor-sharp writer like Greg Rucka in charge of a high-concept sci-fi setting, and The Forged has been delivering that magic since the start. It’s a series that understands that the best space operas aren’t just about lasers and fleets—they’re about the people holding the guns, the loyalty they swear, and the moments they choose to break. That human element is what makes this run sing, and now we’re standing at the edge of the final drop.

At the heart of the action is Team Scimitar-3, a group of five hardened warriors whose journey began with a mysterious distress signal that pulled them away from their duties. What started as a mission has spiraled into something far more dangerous: an attempt to topple the very Empire they once swore to serve. As the final arc begins, the allegiances that held the team together are being tested, and the battle lines are being drawn in a way that feels both inevitable and terrifyingly fresh.

Mike Henderson’s art is the perfect vessel for this story. He brings a kinetic energy to the combat and a grounded realism to the characters that makes every emotional beat land. In this issue, as the team faces the consequences of their choices, Henderson’s linework ensures that the tension is palpable, whether the characters are in the thick of a firefight or navigating the complex political fallout of their rebellion.

One of the things I’ve always loved about this series is its refusal to take itself too seriously, even when the stakes are life and death. While the crew of Scimitar-3 prepares for the biggest fight of their lives, there’s still room for the series’ signature wit. If you’ve been following along, you know that even in the face of an empire’s wrath, there’s always time for a moment of levity—and yes, that includes some unexpected interactions with a certain super-computer.

This is the one I’d hand you if you’ve been on the fence about jumping in late. The story is tight, the characters are fully realized, and the ending is right around the corner. Whether you’re a long-time fan watching the pieces fall into place or a new reader looking for a sci-fi story with heart and humor, The Forged #13 is a drop you’re going to want to catch before the stack clears.