MASTERMINDS #5 (Dark Horse Comics)

As the game comes to an end, Edward must make some final decisions about himself and who he wants to be. Will he continue to trade his morals to become rich and famous as a member of the Masterminds? Or will he find himself and redeem all the questionable behaviors he has displayed throughout this game and his life?

Masterminds #5 - Written By Zack Kaplan - Art By Stephen Thompson - Colors By Thiago Rocha – Letters By Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou - Edited By Spencer Cushing - Published By Dark Horse Comics

Credit: Dark Horse Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Edward has made it to the final test, which means he is steps away from becoming a member of the Masterminds and becoming a rich & famous game developer. However, he seems to be conflicted for the first time on this journey as it appears he feels bad for all that’s happened to Angie. But this seems to not make him feel bad enough to not complete the game. Now as he stands before the final test, he needs to look inside himself one more time to see what he truly wants. Will he sell what’s left of his soul or will he start on a path of moral redemption?

WRITING:

This final issue of the series is one heck of a roller coaster of emotions and psychology, and Zack Kaplan makes sure the tension never lets up. From the opening moments, the story feels like it has been building toward this exact breaking point, where Edward is forced to confront not only the consequences of the game but also the ugly truth about who he has allowed himself to become. Kaplan has woven together a wild psychological thriller that has always played with ambition, ego, guilt, and manipulation, but this finale pushes all of those ideas to their highest point. Edward has been selfish from the jump, chasing success and status with very little concern for the damage left behind, so the fact that Kaplan can still make his moments of hesitation feel believable says a lot about how carefully this character has been developed.

Coming into this finale, it almost feels like a foregone conclusion that Edward will finish the game and accept his place among the Masterminds. His hunger for recognition, wealth, and power has been so consistent that taking the final step seems like the obvious choice. What makes the issue so effective, though, is the way Kaplan keeps challenging that expectation. Every time it looks like Edward might finally choose a better path, there is still enough doubt hanging over him to make the reader question whether his guilt is genuine or simply another part of his survival instinct. That uncertainty gives the issue a strong emotional pull because the ending is not just about whether Edward wins the game, but whether there is anything decent left inside him to save.

The surprise reveals and secret plan add another layer of excitement, giving the finale the kind of twists that make the entire series feel more carefully constructed in hindsight. Kaplan balances the psychological drama with strong pacing, allowing the story to slow down long enough for Edward’s internal conflict to matter while still keeping the larger mystery moving forward. The final decision is shocking, but it does not feel random. It feels like the natural result of everything Edward has done, avoided, and justified throughout the series. By the time the issue reaches its final pages, the story leaves readers with a satisfying conclusion to this chapter while still opening the door for more. It is the kind of ending that makes you want to immediately go back and look for clues you may have missed along the way.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue is wonderful and matches the tense, psychological tone of the story perfectly. Stephen Thompson does an incredible job bringing this world to life, using sharp compositions, expressive character work, and bold page layouts to make the finale feel bigger and more intense. The geometric shapes and carefully arranged panels give the issue a distinct visual identity, making certain pages feel almost like part of the game itself. That design choice helps pull the reader deeper into Edward’s mindset, because the art often feels controlled, calculated, and slightly unsettling in the best possible way.

Thompson’s character designs also do a lot of heavy lifting throughout the issue. Edward’s body language and facial expressions communicate his hesitation, fear, arrogance, and desperation without needing the script to over-explain what he is feeling. The backgrounds are just as strong, giving each scene enough detail to feel grounded while still leaving room for the tension to breathe. There is a clean precision to the artwork that works especially well for a story centered around puzzles, manipulation, and moral choices, and it makes the final test feel visually memorable rather than just another dramatic set piece.

The colors are what really make the art pop, and Thiago Rocha’s choices give the book a unique and stylish look. The color palette helps separate the emotional beats of the issue, shifting the atmosphere when the story needs to feel colder, stranger, or more intense. Rocha’s work adds depth to the geometric designs and gives the pages a polished energy that is very pleasing to the eyes. Combined with Thompson’s layouts, the colors make the issue feel sleek, dramatic, and visually engaging from start to finish.

Check Out KEN’S REVIEW OF MASTERMINDS #4

Final Thoughts:

Masterminds #5 is a damn near perfect ending to a phenomenal series. The finale, much like the rest of the series, is thrilling and unpredictable. Everything about this book hits, the art, the story, the drama, and all the other intangibles. If you’ve been following this series, I promise you will be pleased with this final issue. If you haven’t been following this series, make sure you get a copy of the Trade when it drops on October 20th, 2026, and see what I’m so hyped about!

FINAL GRADE: 9.8/10

Let me know your thoughts on Masterminds #5 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!