It may be a few months since the last issue, but there’s no doubt many will be picking up Masterminds #5 to uncover its big twist ending. After a gripping start, Edward has reached the final level, but is it a bona fide secret society of elites, or a trap that he can only die in?
Masterminds #5 opens with Edward looking up at steel beams hung from chains above him. He must climb up them like Mario in Donkey Kong. In the second panel, we see these beams forming the Masterminds logo, emblazoned on the masks of those watching him from the top. It’s a clever final game for its reference to a real game, while also being a rather physically demanding one.
Before Edward embarks, we cut away to a previous moment between him and Angie. It’s an opportunity for Kaplan to remind us that Edward loves Angie for real and that she’s forcing him to choose between her and the game. Ever the completist, we already know Edward is choosing the game.
It’s like a classic platformer.
Credit: Dark Horse
Like any good heist movie, this issue gives readers the full breakdown of what was really going on, complete with a fleshed-out flashback to key moments. It also offers multiple twists, keeping you guessing to the very last page. At its core, this is a story about how far Edward is willing to go to win, forcing him to make a deadly choice. It may conveniently wrap up the villain side of things, but it does open up the adventure for Masterminds to continue, under a new set of rules.
Art by Stephen Thompson is good, with heavy use of red by Thaigo Rocha that helps make the final game dangerous. The flashback to key moments is well done, coloring key figures while leaving backgrounds and unimportant characters gray. One could see that effect working well in a movie. The danger of the steel beams and eventually being on top of them is also well done, as the height is never forgotten, and the space is well rendered.
Masterminds #5 succeeds in delivering a tense, satisfying finale while remaining true to the themes that made the series so compelling in the first place. Kaplan expertly balances character motivation, conspiracy, and surprise, culminating in a final issue that constantly shifts the reader’s expectations. Edward’s need to win remains the emotional and narrative engine of the story, elevating the twists beyond mere shock value. Combined with Thompson and Rocha’s effective visual storytelling, Masterminds closes this chapter with confidence while leaving the door open for future games to be played.
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