Final Crisis Review – “Final Crisis #5”

Reviews of DC’s main event are now up to date. Later this week: “Secret Invasion: Dark Reign,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight” and “Secret Invasion: Home Invasion.”

General Information

Title: Final Crisis #5

Author: Grant Morrison

Illustrator(s): J.G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and Jesus Merino are all credited with “art.” Alex Sinclair is credited with colours.

Cover Date: December 2008

Cover Price: $3.99 US

Premise

Hal Jordan finally proves his innocence, and leads the charge back to Earth, where Darkseid is corporeal and bringing about the onset of the fifth world.

High Point

Guy Gardner: John Stewart’s still down there! Darkseid’s dragging all our friends into hell with him!
Hal Jordan: Then I say we go in after him, Guy. You, me, Kyle, anybody else who wants to. And we kick his ass.
Salaak: Your ring, Jordan.

Low Point

The Batman related dialogue wouldn’t make sense unless you read last week’s issue of Batman. What happened to self-contained main events? DC likes to point out that they have fewer tie-ins than Marvel, but Marvel seems to do a better job of editing in such a way that the tie-ins are actually optional.

The Scores

This feels original in the context of the miniseries because it makes sense. As odd as that sounds, it’s the first time we start getting real answers and clearly disernable goals for the parties involved. I give it 5 out of 6.

The artwork is very well done, and doesn’t even seem to be done by two different teams. They managed to get a great combination sharing the job this time. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story is much more coherent than it was for the first four issues. There are still some points of confusion, but not nearly as many as there were. This might actually all make sense when it’s all over. I give it 4 out of 6.

The characterization works for a select few individuals. The others aren’t given enough time on the page to come through, but the Green Lanterns, Darkseid and Mr. Miracle all come across nicely. I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response is good. Green Lantern is my favourite DC concept, and they’re very well used in these pages. I give it 5 out of 6.

The flow is improving as enough story information comes across to keep things sensible and relatively easy to follow. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, it’s the most enjoyable issue yet, and one that gives me hope that this will read very well as a trade paperback. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Final Crisis #5 receives 32 out of 42.

Final Crisis Checklist