Skyward #5 Review

Skyward #5

Writer: Joe Henderson
Artist: Lee Garbett
Colorist: Antonio Fabela
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Image

Review by Michael Farris, Jr.

Skyward #5 starts with Willa going headfirst into a rainstorm (aka, a giant floating bubble of water) to rescue her dad before he drowns. When that gets settled, they hatch a scheme to rescue Edison from the clutches of Roger Barrow before they head off to restore the world. However, their plan doesn’t go exactly as they hoped, and now the fate of the world rests entirely on Willa’s shoulders.

The five issues that we’ve had of Skyward have been nothing short of amazing. There were some points in this issue that I felt were a little weak compared to how well-thought out the previous issues have been. For example, it seemed like the characters came to a conclusion on the fate of Roger Barrow a little too quickly. Then, during the book’s climactic moment, one character seemingly floats away and we never learn their fate.

That said, this was still a powerful issue that fits in right along with the rest of the story. And it is perhaps the most heart-rending part of the story so far. I’ve said time and again that the strength of Skyward is its characters, and that shows in this one. We hardly get to know a certain character, but what happens is enough to provoke an immense sense of loss.

Another strength of this series has been the artwork, and again, this issue showcases that asset. The first several pages are devoid of dialogue and give the art its purest moment to shine. It tells the story effectively, and when the silence is broken, you almost want more time to just admire the art and let it do the work.

Verdict: Buy it.

Really, do I have to keep reminding you to buy this series? Each week it comes out, it’s the first comic I read, and with Skyward #5 I don’t see that stopping any time soon.