Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Mattia De Iulis

Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover: Adam Hughes

Release Date: November 27, 2019

Price: $3.99

Sue Richards’ former S.H.I.E.L.D. partner, Aidan Tintreach, has been exposed as a lying, psychopathic scumbag. Now the two are on a collision course for wackiness! With the lives of some kids at stake, will Sue be willing to break her one rule if need be? Let’s find out in the final issue of Mark Waid’s mini, INVISIBLE WOMAN #5!

SPOILERS!

The issue begins with C.I.A. “Don’t Call Me S.H.I.E.L.D.” agent Maria Hill holding Aiden “Off the Deep End” Tintreach and Sue “Stormy” Richards at gunpoint, after their botched burglary of a… you know what? Doesn’t matter. All you need to know is the doohickey they went to steal was destroyed, and now Tintreach’s partner will blow up a plane transporting the hostage kids from the beginning of the series.

After some tough talk from Hill, who spouts the classic analogy “like a katana through a marshmallow,” Aiden escapes after presumably shooting out a light. Though this progression is a little unclear, Mattia De Iulis’ art overall has been a high point of the series, especially the character work. His coloring also stands out; the background blues and reds of Sue and Tintreach, respectively, during a later confrontation are a nice touch.

Sue quickly fills in Maria on what’s up and what’s about to quite literally go down. Luckily, Hill has a “hella fast” jet parked on the roof, so the two hop in and head off to intercept the doomed plane. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to the ladies, that little scamp Tintreach has stowed away.

Observant readers may have noticed some thinly-veiled jabs at Mark Waid’s dialogue in this review. Now get ready for some praise. Waid does really well with the Invisible Woman’s powers. She’s done some pretty cool stuff in the series, and this issue is no exception. After our heroines pull even with the kids’ plane, Sue pops open their door while simultaneously creating an enclosed force field bridge she then runs across. There’s a tussle with a lone gunman who gets taken out by one of the kids, who wasn’t afraid because he recognized the Invisible Woman. Makes sense. The Fantastic Four are kind of a big deal.

Sue turns the plane invisible so the kids can (successfully) find the bomb, which she throws out the door just in time. The End. But wait- Tintreach has commandeered Hill’s jet! Luckily he didn’t kill her even though he has gone full psycho at this point. Never go full psycho. Apparently he thinks Stormy looked down on him for using killing as a method in their spy days, which she flatly denies. But Aiden is hell bent on suicide by shield at this point. We get some Batman “killing would be too damn easy” dialogue from Sue, before Tintreach flies into her shielded plane, blowing himself to hell. Cue cheesy epilogue, and the actual end. But wait- what about Tintreach’s diabolical Italian lady accomplice? Yeah, just try to forget about her.

FINAL THOUGHTS

INVISIBLE WOMAN #5, much like the series as a whole, has its peaks and valleys. It begins on the high of the Maria Hill cameo, only to drop when she opens her mouth. It goes back up with Sue’s powers, only to descend again with Tintreach’s over-the-top insanity. Mattia De Iulis’ art may be a peak, but the final issue of Mark Waid’s spy story feels like a valley.

6.4/10