Death Orb #5
Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Ryan Ferrier
Artists: Alejandro Aragon & Chris O’Halloran
Death Orb is a series with great ideas, fun action scenes, and genre-defining artwork to hold it all together. Every issue feels better than the last and its ramp-up is always reasonable without faltering. That is, until issue 5, the last of the series. I know it’s a miniseries and not made to be a long story, but its wrap up could be better. Somewhere along the way, the issue loses its steam and starts tying up loose ends without care for earning them.
There are a few plotlines set up by the previous issues which unfold in a manner ill-befitting the storytelling. There are a few minor moments throughout that are in-character don’t feel proper in pace. The nun turns into a radical suddenly since we don’t have much time with her, making Aleeya’s slaying feel arbitrary. The characters could find shelter without this addition. It’s an edgy page for no other reason but to fill spaces. Instead, the scene would benefit from decompression between the action scenes.
Rider’s goal the entire time is to find his wife and child, hoping to reunite their family. He knows his enemy is Father and as readers, we assume Father will stand in his way. The confrontation feels nonexistent and doesn’t have the emotional gravitas that has been building up. While the final kill of the issue, a literal jaw-dropper, will stay with me forever, it wasn’t narratively satisfying. Then after it’s all over, Rider gives up his search for his family despite Pilot’s insistence she saw them. The story basically hits a wall and collapses and the only reason I can pinpoint is that the book must be five issues. Rather than leaving the ending open, Ferrier insists on closing up everything, neatly or not, because the series is finishing.
With the rush to seal away the story, Aragon and O’Halloran are the heroes of the creative team. Every panel energizes the scenes, giving the feeling that you’re watching a punk rock deathmatch. Having a stellar art style, the team really takes a victory lap this issue when all is said and done. The final few pages with Rider walking off into the sunset while holding Pilot are posters waiting to happen.
Despite the art team’s stunning visuals once again, Ferrier really drops the ball while finishing his tale. Normally in my reviews, I’ll say there are good signs something is picking back up or that there’ll be a payoff from an odd decision, but I can’t here. This is the final issue and was meant to have that very payoff. The ending is disappointing, but it still looks great and at least it’s a series without loose ends.
Death Orb #5
The story feels rushed and the series could have benefited from one more issue to fill out its conclusion. Not a bad ending, but definitely a meh one.
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