Connect with us
'Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy' #5 review
Dark Horse

Comic Books

‘Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy’ #5 review

Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy continues to be the most visually innovative series in comics.

Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy is without a doubt one of the best superhero comics you can read today. The fourth issue was yet another excellent example of visual ideas coming together with superheroes, and Jeff Lemire and Tonci Zonjic are delivering an interesting take on some classic themes in a visually stunning way. In the fifth and penultimate issue, things come to a head, Detective Reyes takes charge, and Zonjic continues to blow us away.

When you start reading this book, you’ll notice the color is starkly red. Reyes has acquired the boy and has “saved” him, but doesn’t know what to do next. Interspersed are shots of yellow, which break up the red, but also connect with the headlights of the car. Reyes is pushing forward, unsure of what to do next, and the visuals convey this doubt. It creates a sense of dread, which may not be obvious at first, but build towards a dreadful turn in the story. This shifts to the use of bright white, which blows the book out in a visual way to convey the blinding nature of where the story is at.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

As the fog sets in with the blinding white, the story cuts away, checking in with Skulldigger with an impressive double page layout of the character getting back to home base and resetting. The story ramps up well, focusing on Reyes’ predicament and the ever-growing danger of a supervillain after her. Vigilante heroism has been explored in this series and this issue seems to suggest there is a need for it with rampant and unpredictable supervillains afoot.

Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy #5

Check out that bike!
Credit: Dark Horse

There are multiple pages and panels in this issue that are so striking they’ll take your breath away. Zonjic uses uncolored panels to hammer home a deeply emotional moment. These are shocking due to the use of color around it. White is used again with a “Smash” on the page and a skull flail that crashes onto the page. Later, a punch to the face of Skeleton Boy all in white is overlayed on a colored panel of the villain’s purple skin. It’s an impressive visual idea as it’s a panel overlaid on the fist punching it underneath. There’s a relationship between the two overlaid that may be a new visual idea to comics. It’s visuals like this that set the work apart from what usual comic book story.

As penultimate issues go, this book sets up the Skulldigger vs. Grimjim showdown that has been teased and set up from the start. Lemire never lets us forget the trauma and emotional impact that’s on the shoulders of other characters, but so far Skulldigger has remained relatively coldhearted and unemotional. He’s a sentinel of a sort that must face the villain he practically desires to vanquish. Since much of the narrative of this issue has left Skulldigger and Grimjim as forces of violence, it’ll be interesting to see if the emotional side of the story opens up for them.

Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy remains one of the most visually innovative and deeply challenging comics series to date. The penultimate issue sets up the showdown of the century and yet the art continues to be the showstopper. Do not pass on this series, as it has visually stunned and continues to impress panel to panel.

'Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy' #5 review
‘Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy’ #5 review
Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy #5
Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy remains one of the most visually innovative and deeply challenging comics series to date. The penultimate issue sets up the showdown of the century and yet the art continues to be the showstopper. Do not pass on this series as it has visually stunned and continues to impress panel to panel.
Reader Rating1 Vote
8.5
Sets up the showdown of superhero vs. supervillain
Continues to impress with visually impressive and innovative visual ideas
The use of color is excellent
Skulldigger continues to be a bit of an enigma...maybe on purpose
9.5
Great

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup