Hex Wives #5 is published by DC Vertigo, written by Ben Blacker, with art from Mirka Andolfo, colors by Marissa Louise, and letters from Josh Reed. The series follows a group of women in a Stepford-like neighborhood being controlled by the men around them in order to keep their powers from coming to fruition. The women are in-fact powerful witches and not just the housewives that their husbands have relegated them to.
Get BWT in your inbox!
Get BWT in your inbox!
Last issue we saw that Izzy was beginning to understand the magic inside her. After Becky’s flying incident, accidentally snipping the head off of a cat, and Demina experiencing voices following getting her first period, Iz is more than sure that their magic is blood magic. And she’s right.
Hex Wives #5 opens with Izzy experimenting with her powers. She looks to find her limits and capabilities and piece together her new identity as a magic user. She does this all while hiding it from her husband and trying to convince the other women, mainly Nadiya that this is the truth and not some delusion.
That said, the men have their own plans, to prove to their boss, Mr. August, that everything is under control. But will he believe it while Izzy prepares to host Aaron’s boss? She must also figure out how to show real examples fo magic to Nadiya and the other women in order for them to unlock their powers.
The writing in this issue is better than last. Previously I had issues with the way Becky’s dialogue was written, it came off as forced and disingenuine. However, this issue focuses on interactions between Izzy and Nadiya and these conversations feel lived-in. The dialogue reads like someone would speak and there is a bond between the two and their reactions feel normal. Specifically when Izzy attempts to get Nadiya to cut herself, to which Nadiya responds with shock and refusal.
That being said the strongest moment comes at the end of the book as all the women discover who they are and how to tap into their power. This event is highlighted by the fact that women are able to find out their power because the men deem themselves too important and have sequestered themselves in the living room with their boss. The issue balances both big moments that keep you engaged and the bread crumb trail setting up for big action in the next issue.
The colors are great and the use of black and pink to highlight when the women are using their power does a lot to show them as an intimidating force against the full and uniform men in their lives. That being said, the most striking panels come from the end of the issue with serious and emotive faces drawn by Andolfo accented by different bold color schemes to highlight their differences between the men on the outside and the women in the kitchen.
Overall, this issue sets up the next perfectly and shows enough action and builds enough of the world for it to feel like an issue where a lot happens. I’m excited to see what the women do in Hex Wives #6 and I’ll be counting the days until I get to read it.
Hex Wives #5 is available now wherever comic books are sold
Hex Wives #5
TL;DR
Overall, this issue sets up the next perfectly and shows enough action and builds enough of the world for it to feel like an issue where a lot happens. I’m excited to see what the women do in Hex Wives #6 and I’ll be counting the days until I get to read it.
