ANTARCTICA #5, by Image Comics on 11/15/23, concludes the sci-fi adventure’s first arc when a third group of parallel dimension jumpers enters the fray.
The Details
- Written by: Simon Birks
- Art by: Willi Roberts
- Colors by: Willi Roberts
- Letters by: Lyndon White
- Cover art by: Willi Roberts (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 15, 2023
Is ANTARCTICA #5 Good?
ANTARCTICA #5 is a fast-paced, thrilling conclusion to the sci-fi series’ first arc, but it’s also a challenging read. Simon Birks piles on the action, new twists, and a strong cliffhanger of a conclusion, but the gaps may leave some readers scratching their heads.
When last we left Hannah Curtis and her allies, they managed to infiltrate Dr. Curtis’s base and gain the upper hand, partly through dumb luck and partly through the unexpected turn of enemies into allies. As a bonus, we finally learned what’s happening on the parallel Earth to drive Dr. Curtis to murderous ends. Now, a third Earth crashes the party, forcing both Hannahs to form a temporary alliance to escape getting killed. Meanwhile, a voice from Hannah’s past dredges up painful memories.
If you’re wondering where a group from a third Earth came from, what they want, and why, no, you didn’t miss that part in the last issue. The group is suddenly there, and the Hannahs inexplicably know who they are and what they want. This issue was a challenge because it took multiple read-throughs to sort it all out.
What’s great about ANTARCTICA #5? Simon Birks’s action/adventure pacing is the absolute highlight of this issue. You feel like you’re in a relentless action movie with teams running here, there, and everywhere. Better still, the individual team moments are clear and easy to follow.
What’s not so great about ANTARCTICA #5? The criticism we noted in the last review for issue #4 comes back doubly so in this issue. Birks has a mountain of developments that come out of nowhere without explanation. The Hannahs have an older sister who plays a significant role in this issue, but that sibling isn’t mentioned anywhere up to now. The third Earthers arrive between issues without explanation, setup, or context.
How do the Hannahs know who the third Earthers are and what they want? Why are the third Earthers here? If Hannah’s older sister, Eve, is such an important part of her life, why was she never seen, mentioned, or depicted in any way up until now? What the heck is a Fracture, and how is it connected to or different than world jumping?
The chronic problem with this series is the sheer volume of major plot developments Birks throws in without integrating them organically into the main story. Giving the benefit of the doubt, we presume Birks has a complete story in his head and isn’t making up the story as he goes. If so, his scripts are breaking down because he’s not getting the story out of his head and onto the page, which is a basic storytelling requirement.
How’s the art? Roberts’s art is the best we’ve seen from any comic coming out of the Blue Fox creative team. The character designs are mostly distinctive, which is a respectable feat, considering the story centers on doppelgangers.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s ANTARCTICA #5 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our ANTARCTICA #4 review to find out what the second Earth is experiencing and why they want our Earth.
We begin with the Hannahs witnessing a new team approaching their base. Everyone seems to know the new team is from a third Earth, intent on killing everyone present. The Hannahs agree to a temporary alliance to defend their base or find an escape.
The third Earthers begin a mass assault on the base, killing everyone they find. The Hannahs agree their only course of escape is to world jump. However, the powering process takes too long, and the third Earthers infiltrate the base.
We conclude the issue with Hannah seeing a familiar face, a tighter focus, and a guide who makes Hannah’s hopes come true.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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ANTARCTICA #5 bristles with high-octane action and excellent art for a thrilling adventure to end the first arc. That said, the incomplete plot leaves too many gaps for the reader to fill in, making an already esoteric concept frustratingly confusing.
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