After a two-month hiatus, Surviving Megalopolis is back with its fifth and penultimate issue. The issue synopsis hints at an increase in action and closure to some storylines, but is it good?
Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #5 (Dark Horse Comics)
Prior to this issue, the series has slowly declined into predictable sequences and slow paced story-telling, two aspects which the original series prided itself on providing the opposite of. This issue was an opportunity for Simone to salvage the series by capitalizing on the momentum and setting up the arc’s finale. While it does seem as though all of the storylines have converged, it certainly took some time getting to that point.
The last few issues have been so dependent on text-heavy panels that tell more than they show. For example, in this issue’s court script, the colonel describes how the super-villains crushed a tank into the size of a dog. That’s comic gold right there and certainly something that would have raised the overall rating of the issue, but the closest thing we get to that is someone getting shot in the head. The rescue team is locked in a conversation with Mr. Valiant, Mina and Cody get “closer” in his bat-cave, and while we actually discover what’s at the end of the pit in the center of the city, not all readers will appreciate the big reveal’s complexity.
This issue is more of the same, but without any scenes that show off Calafiore’s artistic talent. Hardly any of the Valiant’s team of villains are showcased and we only catch glimpses of some of the supervillains. While we get one two-page spread, it’s nothing compared to what we’ve seen in the series previously. And maybe that’s my problem, my expectations have been set too high by the previous volume, Leaving Megalopolis. So for this last paragraph, I’m going to focus on the positives.
What does this issue give us? Well it progresses all the storylines to a point necessary for a finale, the art has continued to be solid, and the pit reveal is shocking to say the least. There are still questions that have gone unanswered so you’re left with that empty feeling of wanting more, but that’s what finales are for. This next issue still has the opportunity to be the best one yet and feature some incredible warfare.
Is It Good?
Leaving Megalopolis: Surviving Megalopolis #5 remains consistent with its previous issues in progressing the storyline, delivering quality visuals, but doing so in a way that doesn’t knock your socks off. The last volume had an amazing culminating issue so if you’ve stuck with it this far I’d hang around for the next issue.
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