Welcome back to the Academy…..again!
It has been since May 2026 that The Sparrow Academy has put the world in a vice grip. Five is doing all he can to fight back but it’s not enough. Now the rest of the Umbrella Academy needs to scramble to find a way to win.
THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: PLAN B #5 by Gerard Way, Gabriel Bá, Dave Stewart and Nate Piekos delivers its pen-ultimate chapter.
Let’s take a look at how things play out now.
THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: PLAN B #5 by Gerard Way, Gabriel Bá, Dave Stewart and Nate Piekos (DARK HORSE COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Way leads into the finale with the strains on the family more evident than ever. The opening with Allison and Good Boy is prime example of this theme. Her actions show the flaws in her character than never escape. This flashback bears more weight in present day. Allison’s range of emotions are on full display in the latter half as the ties are taking their toll on her soul. Meanwhile, the Sparrows are more confident than ever of their domination tactics. Number One’s arrogance pours on each page. It never lets a moment go by without claiming a dangerous decree.
Readers watcha s the rest of the cast get some key moments in while one steals the spotlight. Dr. Zoo’s trek is filled with lost grasps of hope while convincing his passenger (and readers) of his flawed attempts of good. The writing also shows Mom’s newfound faith a stronger plot point than expected. Considering the result, this is greater than stated. Number Five takes events into a grave direction with the most impact. His brash actions leave a major dent into the Sparrows plans. This spirals over to the closing act. Way sets up for a major collision of plots that look to implode on arrival. If not for the delays, this would have a much larger feel going into the finale.
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Bá & Stewart unveil the deep wounds Allison has inflicted early in the opening pages. The fight with Good Boy is brief but its’ aftermath is what jumps on the page. Claire’s reaction to events conveys the fears running through her head. This forces a blunt action and somber response to follow. Once the story jumps back to present, The Sparrows get a strong two page spread. Their evil intentions can’t escape view. Once the story transitions to Dr. Zoo, the art takes a more sci-fi look.
The full page look of the ship flying ushers in Zoo’s assessment of matters. Panels go smaller to zero in on his reactions. Allison’s follow-up portion is a major emotional trip. Her responses to hearing Claire and Patrick carry much weight in the panels. It reflects her imperfections as the chaos starts ramping up. Five’s attack on the president is heightened due to Piekos’ lettering. The cold look in is eyes represents the dark choices he’s about to make. A bold half panel shows the result of that choice in chilling fashion. This allows the other characters to get some prime panels in before the closing shot teases more doom on an already slippery slope. Solid visual presentation.
Overall Grade: 8.4
Five’s latest actions set the stage for a combustible confrontation as the UA has one chance left to fight. The writing peels back deep emotional scars throughout this chapter. Bá & Stewart bring the quirky scenarios to life like no one else. A mind-bending experience like no other.
Let me know your thoughts on THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: PLAN B #5 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
