DEAD KINGDOM #5, from Red 5 Comics on February 15th, 2023, ends the first arc of the series with a tense mission to escort refugees to safety and an uncertain future.
The Details
- Written by: Etienne Derepentigny
- Art by: Etienne Derepentigny
- Colors by: Etienne Derepentigny
- Letters by: Jerome Gagnon
- Cover art by: Etienne Derepentigny
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.95
- Release date: February 15, 2023
Is It Good?
DEAD KINGDOM #5 is a strange way to end an arc. In fairness to Etienne Derepentigny, he warned readers in advance through the solicits and social media posts that the ending is not an ending but a “to be continued…” Still, it’s a strange way to end an arc.
When last we left Kain and his newfound allies, the group decided to fight on against impossible odds. Now, we catch up with the group a few months later to find the group has become a formidable fighting unit under Kain’s leadership and training. Almost immediately, the beginning rewards readers with a satisfying start by showing how the determination of Kain’s group to push past their fears and doubts has turned them into heroes.
While the ending is satisfying, the odd creative choice to end without answering a slew of open questions is decidedly less satisfying. Who are the hooded cult figures? How did they start the zombie plague? Why did the cult unleash death on the country? What is their goal?
All these questions and more are completely untouched in this final issue. The little hints Etienne Derepentigny sporadically peppered throughout the series lead nowhere, presuming the bigger picture surrounding the cult in the second arc. It’s quite a gamble these days to leave so much story untold, expecting that a second arc will get made, so we’ll see if it pays off. Should Etienne Derepentigny get a second arc, expectations for completeness will be much higher.
Regardless of the unusual plot ending, Etienne Derepentigny uses this issue to dig into a rollercoaster of emotions as Kain and his allies find a rare moment to experience grief, sorrow, and some relief after a job well done. Through Derepentigny’s art, each character projects a range of emotions that tugs at the readers’ heartstrings and gets you invested in what will happen to these characters in the future.
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 DEAD KINGDOM #4 review to find out how Kain’s band of fighters came together.
We begin several months later after the end of issue #4. Two nervous soldiers are tasked with escorting a group of refugees across a bridge on the way to the Citadel and safety. A group of scouts was sent ahead to search for the undead, but the scouts have taken too long to return.
Suddenly, the scouts are seen approaching through the fog, but it’s clear the scouts are no longer alive or human. Before the soldiers abandon the refugees to save their own lives, Kain’s group arrives and dispatches the undead scouts with ease.
Kain orders the soldiers to protect the refugee wagon while he and his allies clear the bridge ahead and escort the group to the Citadel. We conclude the issue with reunions, memories, and tears.
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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DEAD KINGDOM #5 ends the arc on an emotionally powerful note as Kain and his allies reflect on their trials while experiencing a range of grief, rage, sadness, and hope. That said, the arc ends on an odd note as almost everything surrounding the mysterious cult is ignored, presuming the story will continue at some later point.
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