DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT #5, from Dynamite Comics on 9/27/23, brings the prequel fairytale to a close when Maleficent faces off against the King’s Wizard.
The Details
- Written by: Soo Lee
- Art by: Soo Lee
- Colors by: Soo Lee
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Jae Lee, June Chung
- Comic Rating: All Ages
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 27, 2023
Is DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT #5 Good?
DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT #5 brings the beautifully drawn but hastily written mini-series to an end in Soo Lee’s final chapter. It’s fair to say this mini ended weaker than it started.
When last we left Maleficent, she defeated a squadron of the King’s knights who came looking for justice against Maleficent’s witchy acts of cruelty against the King’s sons. The battle ended in a full defeat of the King’s Knights. Now, the King sends a wizard to do what his armored men could not, and the results aren’t that much different.
Technically, the mini-series ends, but if you’re wondering what happened to the thieving prince who Maleficent turned into a fox, that point is never addressed. In point of fact, nothing Maleficent does is addressed, so this 5-issue arc is probably best described as five loosely connected battles with a mild beginning, no distinct middle, and no distinct end.
What’s great about DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT #5? The King’s Wizard presents Maleficent with a challenge that’s entertaining to watch. Two magic-wielding beings duke it out for an entire issue, so if you like wizarding shenanigans, this issue delivers.
What’s not so great about DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT #5? Soo Lee either didn’t have a story and made up convenient conflicts as each issue went to press, or Lee had a fundamental misunderstanding about the structure of a story. Similar to the previous two issues, this comic is little more than an art portfolio with words. The art is amazing, but very little effort went into storytelling, which is a comic’s first and primary purpose.
How’s the art? There’s no argument that Soo Lee’s art style and execution are gorgeous. The character movements are powerful and dynamic, and magical manipulations are captivating.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT #5 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT #4 review to find out what happened when a squadron of the King’s Knights arrived to arrest Maleficent.
After the utter defeat of the King’s Knights in the last issue, a wizard arrives to do what the soldiers cannot.
And then they fight.
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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DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT #5 ends the mini-series much weaker than it started when Maleficent engages in a magic battle against the King’s Wizard. The art is gorgeous, and the battle is visually engaging, but it’s clear Soo Lee didn’t have a story to tell, so the ending is meaningless.
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