IS TED OK? #5 (Mad Cave Studios)

As we discover more about Ted and what he is, the story gets deeper and deeper. Ted has a hard choice and decision to make when it comes to how he will handle these truths. What will Ted and company decide as we race to the final issue of this series.

Is Ted Ok? #5 – Written, Art, & Letters By Dave Chisholm - Edited By Ryan Carroll -Published By Mad Cave Studios

Credit: Mad Cave Studios

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Christina tells Ted and Sarah how she met Noah and the circumstances that brought her to be employed by him. She then goes on to tell them about her part in his Manowar Project. Basically, she was hired to power these synthetic beings that Noah was creating using her theory of Soul Space. This is a powerful energy source that is inside all of us, which if we could harness would make the world a better place. But this is purely theoretical…or is it? Ted’s existence is proof of this power source, but what was the cost of making synthetic humans with powers like Ted? This makes Ted question his existence and if it’s worthwhile for him to even be alive. Unfortunately for him that will be the least of his problems by the end of this issue.

WRITING:

This wacky and weird story keeps finding new ways to get even more wacky and even more weird, and that is a big part of what makes it so compelling. Dave Chisholm continues to build out this strange, unpredictable world with confidence, using each new reveal to make the mystery feel larger instead of smaller. What started with the possibility that Ted might be an alien has now shifted into something much more complicated, as we learn that he is a synthetic human powered by Soul Space, a mysterious and potentially world-changing energy source tied to the very essence of life itself. That revelation gives the issue a much heavier emotional weight because Ted is no longer just questioning where he came from; he is forced to question whether his existence came at too high of a cost. Chisholm does a strong job balancing that emotional conflict with the book’s bizarre science fiction energy, making the story feel both deeply personal and completely unhinged in the best way.

The backstory involving Christina is especially important because it gives readers a clearer look at Noah and the unsettling intentions behind the Manowar Project. Through Christina’s explanation, Noah becomes more than just a mysterious figure operating in the background; he comes across as someone brilliant, manipulative, and dangerous, willing to push moral boundaries in pursuit of his own vision. That added context makes the larger story feel more sinister, while also giving Christina more purpose within the narrative. Chisholm keeps the pacing moving by revealing just enough information to answer some questions while immediately creating several more. The issue never loses that feeling of uncertainty, and that uncertainty is what keeps the reader locked in. By the time the final pages arrive, the book delivers a shocking turn that feels earned but still completely wild. For a series built around expecting the unexpected, this ending still manages to hit harder than anticipated and sets up the finale with a huge amount of tension.

ARTWORK:

The art in this issue is a knockout, amplifying the book’s off-kilter energy and making every page feel deliciously unnerving. Dave Chisholm leans fully into the strange tone of the story, filling the issue with visuals that are equal parts expressive, chaotic, and unsettling. His linework gives the world a warped, unstable feeling, which fits perfectly with Ted’s growing uncertainty about who and what he really is. The characters carry a lot of emotion in their faces and body language, especially during Christina’s explanation of Soul Space and the Manowar Project, where the visuals help sell the horror and sadness underneath all of the science fiction weirdness. Chisholm also does a great job using page composition to keep the reader slightly off balance. The layouts feel energetic and unpredictable without becoming hard to follow, which allows the story’s bigger reveals to land with impact while still maintaining a strong sense of movement from scene to scene.

The color work is just as important to the issue’s effectiveness, bringing a surreal quality to the book that makes the world feel alive, dangerous, and impossible to fully trust. The shifts in color help blur the line between reality, memory, and the more abstract ideas tied to Soul Space, giving the issue a dreamlike charge that matches the writing’s escalating tension. There is a strong sense of atmosphere throughout the book, whether the scene is focused on quiet emotional revelation or on the larger, stranger forces surrounding Ted. Chisholm’s art does more than simply illustrate the script; it pushes the mood, deepens the mystery, and makes the entire issue feel visually distinct. For a story this bizarre, the artwork needs to be bold enough to match the concepts being thrown at the reader, and this issue absolutely delivers on that front.

Check Out My Review of IS TED OK? #4

Final Thoughts:

Is Ted OK? #5 delivers a strange but revealing penultimate issue, that definitely gives the reader a great deal of excitement for the finale. The questions that are answered in this issue only raise more questions which creates a great deal of anticipation for the final issue. The impact of the final pages will floor readers well at the same time having them fully vested in the finale. This has been a real surprise and gem of a series. If you haven’t been reading this one you are truly missing out.

FINAL GRADE: 9.4/10

Let me know your thoughts on Is Ted Ok? #5 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!