REVIEW: ‘I Hate This Place,’ Issue #5

I Hate This Place #5 is published by Image Comics, written by Kyle Starks, art by Artyom Topilin, colors by Lee Loughridge, and letters by Pat Brosseau. With Dante dead, Gabby and Trudy are running blind in their attempt to escape from the woods before night sets in. But they aren’t the only ones making their way back to the house. With the situation escalating so rapidly last issue, it only makes sense that things got a bit out of control for our protagonists. Unfortunately for Trudy, that lack of control hits far harder than one would expect in this issue.

One of the first elements of Trudy’s character introduced to us way back in issue one is her survivalist nature. This aspect of her character comes back in I Hate This Place #5 in a meaningful and emotional way. Because while anyone could intellectually process that there is no way someone could be prepared for the day they have just had, Trudy’s upbringing and self-image cannot accept that. Her entire world is built around her ability to adapt to any situation, as well as see the love of her life safely through it. Having utterly failed from her point of view, no matter how reasonable that failure may be, is loathsome to Trudy. Even with Gabby’s support, it is clear that putting the pieces back together for her will take some monumental effort.

Moving past the core emotional conflict, I Hate This Place #5 has one last terrifying fight for our duo as they return to the ranch. This final confrontation delivers everything an ending could ask for. Tension, character, and a meaningful resolution all come together in this sequence to give Gabby and Trudy a spectacular send-off for this arc of their story. Following this wrap-up scene are some interesting moments that give glimpses into both the larger world that awaits discovery as well as some more personal problems that look to be rearing their heads for the coming arc.

As has been the case throughout this series, I Hate This Place #5 ‘s art does a great job of augmenting the story. This is especially true when it comes to allowing Trudy and Gabby’s emotions to really flourish on the page. One of this series’ strongest assets has been how focused on the humanity and love between these two characters its narrative is. This focus has kept this series engaging in a way horror stories can easily fail at. The art clearly understands how important these two are, as it takes great pains to make every emotional moment between them count.

These emotions are further enhanced by the coloring, with its amazing performance that continuously augments the already fantastic presentation. Rounding out our look at this issue is the lettering. The lettering’s placement and design work wonderfully with the rest of the book, allowing it to guide readers smoothly through this newest tale.

When all is said and done, I Hate This Place #5 delivers a fantastic conclusion to this arc. With so much left undiscovered, I cannot wait till next year when I get to catch back up with our duo of resilient ladies as they continue to unravel the mystery surrounding their new home.

I Hate This Place #5 is available now wherever comics are sold.