YUKI VS. PANDA #5, from Source Point Press on December 22nd, 2021, reveals there’s one thing Yuki doesn’t know how to do well – get a boy’s attention without injuring him.
The Details
- Written By: Graham Misiurak
- Art By: A.L. Jones
- Colors By: A.L. Jones
- Letters By: A.L. Jones
- Cover Art By: A.L. Jones
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: December 22, 2021
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Was It Good?
YUKI VS. PANDA #5 has scenes you might like, other scenes that don’t make sense and will challenge your expectations about what a comic should be.
Since issue #1, the premise of this series has been described as a cataclysmic meeting between two foes where the outcome may or may not end the world. Now fully past issue #5, none of that is happening. Not even close. Nothing in this issue has anything to do with the main plot at all, so your expectations will be challenged. If you can let go of the central premise and the woefully mismatched solicit descriptions, you can simply view this series as a collection of random episodes where you don’t have to worry about the story going anywhere and have fun in the moment.
On the plus side, you get a quirky, slice-of-life-with-a-heavy-dash-of-slapstick story about a girl who seeks advice from all the wrong sources when a boy catches her eye. The issue has its charming moments and is good for giving you a chuckle or two. The flow of the story combined with moments of exaggerated emotion appears to draw heavy influences from Manga. If you’re a Manga fan (as we are), certain panels will look and sound pleasantly familiar.
The down point is, as you’ve already guessed, the complete disconnect between the issue and the central premise of the series. Barring the very last panel, nothing here has anything to do with the impending clash between Yuki and Panda. Does it make sense to have a filler issue when you’re only on issue #5? That depends on the reader and how much (or little) time you like to take getting to the meat of the story. Decompressed storytelling is increasingly common in the Comics Industry these days, and this issue is yet another example.
If you like to take your time and explore the world the creators have designed with no sense of urgency around getting to the main story and you like your comics with a little Manga flavor, this issue will be just what you’re looking for.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
It’s been a minute, so if you’re not sure what happened in the last issue, check out our YUKI VS. PANDA #4 review.
We begin with an amusingly awkward scene in the class gym where Mr. Baldy announces he’s taking over the students’ training to ensure victory in the Regional School Olympics. He’s putting faith in Yuki to be their superstar, but Yuki suddenly has something else on her mind – Zach.
Feeling out of her element, Yuki seeks out the advice of her friends to figure out how to approach Zach and gain his romantic attention. Charlotte, the weird Goth girl, suggests the assertive approach, resulting in Zach rolling on the ground in pain. Madisin suggests the romance novel approach, resulting in a nightmare of corsets, bad hair, and Zach winding up on fire… literally.
Eventually, Yuki goes for her last option and asks Bernard what to do. Bernard’s advice is, of course, the best advice. We conclude the issue with a Lunch Room mishap, a killer robot chase (that comes out of nowhere with no explanation and no connection to the events in this issue), and a long-overdue meeting.
Final Thoughts
YUKI VS. PANDA #5 is a charming, slice-of-life issue about a girl who seeks love advice in all the wrong places. The art is pleasant, and the art combined with the writing draw more than a few influences from Manga. However, the events in this issue have a scene or two that are completely disconnected from the main point of this issue, and the issue is completed disconnected from the events of the arc. If you’re keen on enjoying the moment and don’t concern yourself with the arc going anywhere, you’ll find this issue entertaining.
Score: 6.5/10
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