CHERISH #5, from Dynamite Comics on March 8th, 2023, brings the arc to a close with more twists, left turns, right turns, flips, tricks, and double kicks than a telenovela written by a hummingbird.
The Details
- Written by: Katana Collins
- Art by: Gabriel Caitano
- Colors by: Omi Remalante, Jr.
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Stuart Sayger
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 8, 2023
Is It Good?
Wheesh! Get out your pencil and paper to take notes because CHERISH #5 ends the arc in the absolutely most complicated way possible. When you can’t keep track of who’s related to who and who’s married to who, you know you’re in for a wild finish.
When last we left Cherish, she found out Connor and Elise’s mother, Valerie, was responsible (maybe) for all the corporate espionage that led to Cherish’s father’s death. Now, it’s neither that clean nor simple. Valerie was coerced by another party as revenge for Cherish’s sister, her mother, Chaya, Connor, Elise, the FBI, the CIA, the NSA, and a rebel group… and probably Santa Claus plus Rambo for good measure. Truly this finale has everything plus the kitchen sink thrown in.
Does that mean it’s a good story? Yes and no. The story part of the finale is a mixed bag because it is so busy and overly complicated. The sheer volume of characters means nobody gets a moment to shine, so none are particularly memorable except in passing. So, when Cherish receives one shocking revelation after another about people she knows with hidden pasts, the impact doesn’t hit hard because you don’t know that character well enough to care.
Does the ending wrap it all up? Sorta, but not really. The story leaves the fate of at least two characters unresolved, presumably because a second volume is in the works. Considering how this debut arc turned out, Dynamite would be wise to put this character through some serious retooling before committing to a second arc.
The art is just okay. Caitano’s line work and figure work are solid on the whole, but there are a few panels where the detail is lacking, and figure proportions are off. This issue has good art, buoyed by excellent coloring, but it’s not great art.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our CHERISH #4 review to find out the first of several shocking reveals for Cherish.
We begin with a flashback to a scene in the rebel camp where Cherish’s parents helped chaya and the rebels obtain weapons and supplies. Unfortunately, one of those weapons was used to kill innocent civilians, including Chaya’s family. As the group argues over accountability, an attack copter fires on the camp.
Now, Chaya lays out the sordid history to Cherish about her contentious relationship with Cherish’s parents and what happened after the rebel camp was attacked. It’s complicated.
Later, we find out that not everything Chaya relayed paints the full picture. We conclude the issue with lies, truths, more lies, more truths, a big fight, and a big explosion.
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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CHERISH #5 ends the arc with a convoluted pop instead of a bang. Collins swings for the fences with twists and turns on every page, but the volume of surprises quickly becomes messy and confusing. Combined with just average art, this finale is a mild pick.
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