REVIEW: ‘Savage Avengers,’ Issue #5

Savage Avengers #5 is published by Marvel, written by David Pepose, art by Carlos Magno, colours by Espen Grundetjern, and letters by Travis Lanham. In the last issue, Conan was slain, and Thulsa Doom unleashed Set the Serpent God. In this issue, the Savage Avengers fight for the timestream, this time with help from Deathlok.

This issue contains an enormous battle with a lot at stake. Erupting after the dramatic conclusion to the last issue, the final part of this arc is just all intensity. The fight takes several turns with all those involved and is filled with moments of extreme power and thrills. Just when I thought the awesome level of the comic had peaked, something happened to raise the bar even higher. Whilst the exhilaration of the fantasy remains throughout the comic, the actual storytelling is also remarkable, with many moments of poignancy. A collaboration of these is fused together to create a fantastic ending. This is a comic with an important conclusion, as it ends an era in Marvel Comics. This last part was very unexpected and surprisingly emotional, considering the tone of the issue elsewhere.

The script and the characters are tremendous. Pepose has narrated this entire arc with incredible prose. It is emotive and grandiose, treating these heroes like legends. Like an Arthurian Tale, their tribulations are described with passion. Almost every character has a moment where they explode with an increase in power, jaw-dropping pieces of trying to one-up each other. From dragons to throwbacks to classic stories, nothing is hidden. Perhaps the weakest player in the mix is Cloak, who doesn’t really get a boost. He seems whiny and mopey, even in the heat of battle. But there is a reason for it, and the way this develops is much improved from the previous issue. Elektra is a terrific choice of natural leader for the team, with effortless tactical knowledge. But it is this new Deathlok that shines, a reborn Miles Morales with total control over himself and his abilities.

The art captures the chaos of the situation superbly. The mass of enemies is often a terrifying, swirling conglomerate of bodies, but the characters are always clearly defined. The hero moments are brilliant, whether together or alone. When a character is given an upgrade, the designs are immense and stellar. They are rife with details, and the sense of scale is increased massively. The sheer variety this group contains may be what makes it excel. It’s symbiotes and assassins and science experiments and magical knights and so much more.

The colours are also incredible. There are many instances of a purposely overwhelming flash of light infused with rich energy that bathes the panel and paves the way for an exciting reveal. But the colours can adapt and shift for the characters. Dagger and Anti-Venom are a crisp white, whereas Weapon H is immersed in a sickly green. The lettering remains clear even amidst the madness.

Savage Avengers #5 rewrites the book on what can be considered an epic. Because if it has anything less than what is contained in this comic, it does not qualify. It’s a truly magnificent issue that embraces its intensity. Nothing is out of reach for Pepose and the art team when it comes to unleashing something powerful. If the battle needs to last a whole issue, then it will, and it will be a thrill ride for its entirety. There is no predicting what can appear on the next page. It brings a wonderful arc to a close that fully embodies what the Savage Avengers are built for.

Savage Avengers #5 is available where comics are sold.