The Cull reaches its final issue this week, and like past issues, it continues to make me think, “Why hasn’t this been made into a movie?” Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis are crafting a well-told sci-fi story with well-realized teenage characters. Blending The Goonies with War of the Worlds, our heroes are back from another world and have found the aliens have destroyed their town. Now it’s payback.
Picking up where we left off with The Cull #4, our heroes are fighting back a kaiju-sized beast on the beach of their hometown. These teenagers know they have powers but have barely used them, although that won’t stop them from laser-blasting the beast back long enough to ensure their friend Cleo is safe.
Essentially, what we have here is five teenagers imbued with incredible power letting loose. They may not know exactly what they can do with these powers they acquired in another world, but they learn quickly. That includes throwing up shields, growing wings, and pulling off a Power Rangers-level move to turn away the beast. The first half of this issue showcases those powers with incredibly realistic-looking art and epic moments. It’s a real blast.
Friends forever, together!
Credit: Image Comics
Underneath it all is a message about survivors. Thompson does an impeccable job giving Cleo a heartfelt and dramatic speech. It’s a moment that would work well in a movie adaptation, and it’ll have you pumping your fist with excitement.
The second half of the issue is a quieter sequence, with the characters realizing what has become of Cleo’s lost brother and trying to swallow what they are now with powers. These quieter scenes are a bit too stuffed with exposition, but it’s understandable, given the limited page length.
Thompson and De Iulis drop a whopper of a surprise in the final pages. The delightful and expansive concept of the other world rears its head. I won’t spoil it, but it’s a clever way to expand on what has been revealed so far while setting up a cliffhanger ending. This story could end here, but if you’ve enjoyed the series as much as I do, you won’t want it to.
The Cull #5 ends its story with big blockbuster action, great moments of heroism, and a whopper of a cliffhanger. This series has everything you’d want in a hit TV show or movie, executed as well as shows like Lost or any summer tentpole picture.
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