EVERYTHING DEAD & DYING #5 (tiny onion/image comics)

As Jack’s entire world has fallen apart thanks to the unwelcome visitors, can he find a way to salvage what’s left? Or is it all lost and does he need to make a drastic decision? These answers are definitely answered in this final issue of what has been an exceptional series.

Everything Dead & Dying #5 - Written By Tate Brombal - Art By Jacob Phillips - Colors By Pip Martin – Letters By Aditya Bidikar - Edited By Eric Harburn - Published By Tiny Onion/Image Comics

Credit: Tiny Onion/Image Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Now that the intruders have overstayed their welcome, Jack must make some hard decisions about their fates. At the same time, he is facing the destruction that they have caused since showing up in his country oasis. Well, he finds more and more things that have been ruined, he starts to question is life worth this? Is it too late to rebuild and even if he does, will it ever be the same as it was? The more he questions the more uncharacteristic of himself he becomes. This manifests itself as anger at first, before switching to a sullen and depressed mood. Just when he thinks life is over, he is reminded that life is still an important and beautiful thing.

WRITING:

This is a very strong conclusion to an amazing series. Tate Brombal ties up all the loose ends from issues past, well also giving us a definitive closure for Jack. Brombal does a great job of controlling the readers’ emotions and making us feel a lot of different feelings. As the story plays out, you think you know how it’s going to end, then the direction changes, to only change again. This really makes the ending much more impactful and in a lot of ways surprising. This series has been an emotional roller coaster, and this finale was no different.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue is both captivating and eerily beautiful. Jacob Phillips skillfully brings the post-apocalyptic town to life, blending scenes of decay with a sense of worn-out elegance. Every panel captures the location’s distinctive mood, making the environment feel vivid and authentic. The zombies are visually compelling; Phillips designs each one with unique characteristics, giving them personalities that clearly distinguish them from each other.

As the narrative unfolds and Jack’s urgency and unease grow, the illustrations become noticeably more shadowy and intense. This shift in visuals mirrors the rising tension of the plot, adding depth to the story’s emotional stakes. Pip Martin’s use of color further intensifies the atmosphere, featuring subdued, moody tones for present-day scenes and warmer shades during flashbacks. The color contrasts not only clarify different timelines but also highlight the profound impact of Jack’s recollections, resulting in a striking and unified visual presentation throughout the issue.

check out my review of everything dead & dying #4

Final Thoughts:

Everything Dead & Dying #5 brings the series to an end in an impeccable way. There is violence, horror, and reveals throughout this final issue of the series. But what truly makes this issue incredible, and a fitting ending, is the drama and emotions from Jack that play out. Being on this tortured journey with him for this whole series has made the reader close to him. So, the fact that you can feel his pain and sorrow going into the close makes this final issue much more impactful. This is a must have at the LCS this week, and if you haven’t been reading this series make sure to order your TPB as soon as they are up for order. This is a series that you really don’t want to miss.

FINAL GRADE: 10/10

Let me know your thoughts on Everything Dead & Dying #5 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!