SANCTION #5, by Mad Cave Studios on 10/9/24, brings the Soviet murder conspiracy thriller to a close when Boris confronts the mastermind behind the serial killer’s sanctioned targets.
Credits:
- Writer: Ray Fawkes
- Artist: Antonio Fuso
- Colorist: Emilio Lecce
- Letterer: Dave Sharpe
- Cover Artist: Dan Panosian
- Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
- Release Date: October 9, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of SANCTION #5:
First Impressions:
File Sanction #5 under “The one that explains it all,” which is as good an ending as you could hope for in a moody, paranoid thriller. Writer Ray Fawkes ties up all the loose ends to give Boris the full truth of what’s happened and force him to make a hard choice in a lose-lose scenario for a man of principle. Some readers may find the ending a bit anti-climactic, but it’s a solid finale.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Pavel and Boris in Sanction #4, they received accolades for capturing a serial killer. However, the detectives soon realized the killer’s actions were “sanctioned” to get rid of people who were problematic for the leadership of the city. When Boris raced to question the imprisoned killer, he found the purge of witnesses had already begun.
In Sanction #5, Boris races out of the holding cell area after discovering the killer was murdered in his cell. His fellow officers claim not to have seen anyone leave, but Boris now knows who the puppetmaster must be. He races off to confront the one man who could have orchestrated the conspiracy – Major Egorov.
Ray Fakes doesn’t waste time pulling back the final curtain. Admittedly, Major Egorov was the likely mastermind once the extent of the conspiracy became evident, but it feels good to have suspicions confirmed. A mystery works best when the audience can play along.
Boris enters Egorov’s office with his gun drawn, but before he can take action, somebody knocks out Boris from behind. Boris wakes up later, handcuffed to a chair, and sees Pavel standing with Egorov as the two discuss what to do with Boris. Even now, Pavel urges Boris to give up his crusade for his own survival and the sake of his wife. Boris is left with one choice – become part of the conspiracy or die.
Fawkes put Boris in a very small corner with an impossible choice to make. He can sacrifice his life or his soul, which is the ultimate dilemma for a man with a strong moral center. Up to this point, Boris’s fate is anyone’s guess, which is a high compliment.
The issue ends with the last gambit of a man with nothing to lose, a standoff, and the least bad option.
Overall, Sanction #5 brings Ray Fawkes’s grim, desolate thriller to a close with high tension, impactful drama, and an unpredictable ending. Mad Cave should hope every miniseries they publish ends as well as this one.
Artwork and Presentation:
Admittedly, Antonio Fuso’s art makes up for a lack of detail and precision with cinematic panels and a palpable sense of isolation to match the setting. Fuso proves you don’t need to have the cleanest and richest art in the world for effective visual storytelling.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Historical Context:
Some readers may wonder if the events depicted in this miniseries are based on real-world events. We could not find any historical evidence that these characters existed, but it’s possible Fawkes based his story on an actual case and changed the names to protect the innocent.
Final Thoughts:
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SANCTION #5 ends the conspiracy thriller with intense drama, high stakes, and a satisfying albeit morally gray resolution. Fawkes uses the majority of the issue to explain everything to bring the mystery home, and Fuso’s art shows you don’t need to have crisp, pretty lines to have impactful visuals.
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