MINOR THREATS: THE LAST DEVIL LEFT ALIVE #5 (DARK HORSE COMICS)
Is this the end for Frankie Follis aka Playtime?
Cooper Scadlock’s Redport multiversal gentrification plans are on the verge of completion. Follis has assembled a combustible line-up to try stopping him.
Follis has to deal with traitors in her midst along with a hero daughter with an axe to grind.
The deck is stacked against her. There’s one shot to take. Can she pull off the impossible or has her luck finally run its’ course?
Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive #5 by Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Scott Hepburn, Ian Herring & Nate Piekos concludes its’ latest thrilling series.
Let’s take a deeper dive into this finale.
Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive #5 by Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Scott Hepburn, Ian Herring & Nate Piekos (Dark Horse Comics)
***Minor Spoilers Possible***
Oswalt and Blum have put Follis through the grind of being the boss. In this finale, her character is challenged on a few levels. Opening with the sequence of working with her mother to now fighting her daughter, Follis has a clarity moment. Timing is a true problem as moments before, she led a doomed mission against Sedlock. The writing stages this point with a huge gasp of hope as the wild action commences. It doesn’t disappoint in the gravity or dangers of this attack.
Readers watch as the team of misfits hold their ground against the overwhelming forces. It even allows Follis a fleeting moment of peace knowing she’s had a victory. The writing stages this pivot perfectly as her win gets upended. Adding in Scalpel’s long play elevates the drama higher. There’s another wild curve thrown into play which is a creative jump to ease into an escape and closing path. It concludes a few key moments before setting up the main event action. This moment is bittersweet as it caps off the last stand on a shocking note. The epilogue raises a few questions while ushering in a new phase on this outstanding universe.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Hepburn and Herring deliver a striking full page image of Follis’ current situation after flashbacks. It is complimented by a solid nine grid recap. Once in the previous moments, the mood is clearly business as Sedlock holds court. This allows the team to subtly sneak in and make a loud first strike. The following pages ramp up the action as the wheels come off the plan. A fantastic two page spread shows the impact of the brawl as a giant is taken down in terrifying fashion.
This allows for a more calm point to take over the pages. Scalpel’s past with Frankie shows a broken heart forming, leading into the treacherous ways of the current set-up. Modder’s half panel stare down of Frankie has a chilling feel to it. This is quickly dashed by more ensuing chaos. The creative take mentioned earlier allows for some gruesome sequences to take place. Once the stage is set for the final stand, the panels convey the fleeting hope of survival. Frankie’s drastic action is gifted a full page with a close-up reaction panel to seal the impact. This steers events into the strong epilogue. A final image caps off the saga for now but what the future holds is anyone’s guess to this magnificent universe.
OVERALL GRADE: 9.7
Playtime’s last stand versus Sedlock delivers a powerful chapter of storytelling that won’t be soon forgotten. Oswalt and Blum lay all the cards on the table with incredible writing. Hepburn and Herring orchestrate the insane chaos while nailing the emotional pulls. Another instant classic story you can’t afford to miss!
Let me know your thoughts on Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive #5 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
