WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CRIMSON JUSTICE? #5 (Mad Cave Studios)
After a long wait, it’s finally time to find out Whatever Happened to the Crimson Justice! Last we saw our hero he was surprised by the villainous copycat of Dr. Mayhem. The reveal of the new killer was shocking, but what happens next takes it to the next level.
Whatever Happened to the Crimson Justice? #5 - Written By Frank Tieri – Art By Inaki Miranda - Colors By Ellie Wright - Letters By Dave Sharpe - Edited By Ryan Carrol & James B. Emmett - Published By Mad Cave Studios
Credit: Mad Cave Studios
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
STORY OVERVIEW:
After finding out that the copycat killer was none other than John’s best friend Willie, we get to find out his motivations. Turns out Willie is the son of the original Dr. Mayhem and blames the Crimson Justice for ruining his life and the overdose death of his mother. After discovering that Crimson Justice was John, he took his time and set up the events that are unraveling. As John is lying there beaten and hanging on to the last threads of life. He reveals to Willie what really went down the night he killed Dr. Mayhem and reveals one hell of a bombshell. Will the Crimson Justice make one final heroic save or will this truly be the actual death of the Crimson Justice?
WRITING:
The final issue of this story may have taken a while to be released, but it was well worth the wait. Frank Tieri brings us into the depraved world where Willie believes his actions are just. Tieri captures the deranged person Willie has become well making him slightly relatable with his backstory. The interaction between him and John really tugs at the readers heart strings, especially when John reveals the truth about the night he killed Mayhem. The emotions in this finale run at an all-time high and keep the reader waiting with bated breath. On top of the great conclusion to the main story, Tieri ends the book with an awesome and fitting conclusion for Sally as well as teasing the future of Scarlet Girl.
ARTWORK:
The artwork featured in this issue is visually compelling and effectively conveys the narrative's core themes. Inaki Miranda demonstrates considerable skill in illustrating the final showdown between Crimson Justice and Mayhem. The portrayal of Crimson Justice beat up and barely hanging on to life well defiantly challenging Willie’s narrative makes the story real for readers. The way Miranda shows the night that John killed the original Dr. Mayhem shows the physical and mental pain impeccably. Ellie Wright complements the illustrations with carefully considered color selections, consistently integrating shades of red to enhance the connection to the character’s name.
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Final Thoughts:
Whatever Happened to the Crimson Justice? #5 delivers a top tier finale to this amazing story. The issue is filled with every emotion possible and really gives the reader a gut punch with the revelations of the story. The story has a well thought out and poetic ending that will please even the most jaded reader. The wait for this final issue was well worth it and finished the story strongly. If you have been waiting for this like I have, you will not be disappointed. If you haven’t read this series, make sure to keep an eye out for the release of the trade paperback as you will surely want to read this series in its entirety.
FINAL GRADE: 9.8/10
Let me know your thoughts on Whatever Happened to the Crimson Justice? #5 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
