‘Scarlet #5’ (review)

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by Alex Maleev
Published by DC Comics

This is the final chapter of this story by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.

Or it seems, it is at least for now.

This issue feels like the ending is setting up for something bigger down the line. It’s a really compelling issue too. Bendis and Maleev make it something that is worth investing our time into, even if it derails a bit near the end.

At the start of the issue, Scarlet is captured by her enemy. They have her in an SUV headed towards an undisclosed location. She is on her way to a bad end as it would seem.

But alas, the people she is with seem to be on her side. In fact, they are big fans of her and seem to be helping her make her escape.

Bendis does a great job here demonstrating the impact they Scarlet has had on her followers. The dialogue is priceless here as they take Scarlet’s message and reiterate it back at her. It’s funny and even a tad scary.

From this point on, we see Scarlet travel from town to town. She hits major cities. And she has apparently made a lot of people in that nation see her way. It eventually does lead her to the White House itself. And that is actually where things got a little out of hand for me.

This series used to have a down to earth and tight focus and that is lost in these last few pages.  It also lost a lot of the intimacy for me the series had up until this point. And then the issue just ends. It does feel like something has been set up. I just couldn’t tell you what it is.

Still, the art is amazing and there are enough good moments to make this issue shine. Bendis and Maleev are a top notch team. I am interested to see more however, as this issue isn’t entirely fulfilling.

RATING: B+