Written by Andrew Fontana
When you dig into a Jeff Lemire book, you’re likely to get one of two things; a well-crafted character-driven story with heart and soul, or a pretty conventional superhero tale that comes off as a bit perfunctory.
Jeff Lemire is often capable of penning a superhero comic like Black Hammer or Royal City that are so great. This is the guy who made Animal Man awesome, after all. But this is also the guy who wrote Old Man Logan and Justice League of America. Those books weren’t bad, per se, but they were hardly his best.
The Terrifics #5 is one if those books with both Lemire’s at play, and it’s a terribly frustrating read.
Pacing is definitely an issue in The Terrifics #5. Lemire peppers the script with cool little character moments, but these are overshadowed by the main plot. This book has thus far opted for small, rather self-contained arcs over longer stories. Issue #5 is no exception.
What transpires this issue is definitely entertaining, but fails to move the overall plot forward in any meaningful way. It also stops us from getting to know these characters just a little more. Lemire’s got a strong handle on his cast thus far, but more character work would go a long way in making this book one of his best.
Eye popping visuals continue to be The Terrifics main draw. Doc Shaner really blows it away with his pencils. His work here is reminiscent of Michael Allred, but more grounded in realism. He’s continually inventive with the weird shapes both Plastic Man and Metamorpho take throughout the issue. Shaner doesn’t lose his touch in the quieter moments, either. He excels at crafting those little expressions that real people make, giving each character enough of a quirk to make them feel real.
Rating: 7.0
