- Written by: Christopher Cantwell
- Art by: Pasqual Ferry
- Colors by: Matt Hollingsworth
- Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
- Cover art by: Pasqual Ferry, Matt Hollingsworth
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: February 8, 2023
Namor: Conquered Shores #5 concludes the limited series with Namor finding himself at the center of a conflict spiraling out of control after he kills the Human Torch in retaliation for the refugee camp bombing.
Is It Good?
There’s a lot to like in Namor: Conquered Shores #5. Pasqual Ferry’s art is outstanding, the last-minute reveals are (mostly) surprising, and the issue ends on a hopeful note. However, Cantwell fails to stick the landing for one major reason. Let’s get into it.
When last we left Namore and his friends, he “killed” the Human Torch in a fit of rage when the human colony in Atlantis was bombed, killing every refugee and Steve Rogers. Now, Namor comes to his sense and tries to calm everyone down before Atlantean retaliation threatens to wipe out airbreathers for good.
On a positive note, Cantwell works out the “all hope is lost” moment beautifully. When Namor realizes his anger made everything worse, he tries to quell tensions between the Atlanteans and the Machines with little success. You can’t see how he’ll get out of the situation with everyone intact, but Cantwell pulls it off believably.
Second but equal to Cantwell’s yarn-spinning is Pasqual Ferry’s gorgeous art. Ferry and Hollingsworth combine into a formidable artistic force, and you can see the power of their artistry on every page. This is a gorgeous book, full stop.
That said, Cantwell fails to stick the landing on one important point. Spoilers ahead!
When it’s revealed the explosion was orchestrated by Attuma in a conspiracy to wipe out humanity, possibly with Namorita’s blessing, Namor ends the conflict with a painful heart-to-heart with Namorita. Afterward, Namor is banished and begins working with the humans to rebuild the surface.
Therein lies the problem. By all accounts, the humans are in worse shape than before the series started. They have fewer people, one of the main superpowered individuals orchestrating relief efforts (Steve Rogers) is dead, the humans no longer have support from Atlantis, sterilization is still a problem, and the less-breathable air is still less-breathable. How is this a happy ending?
To get to a “happily ever after,” Cantwell doesn’t address the obstacles that made the Earth he created a dystopia in the first place. The final moments are hopeful, but as soon as you think about all the problems left unresolved, you get the impression the characters are smiling in the face of imminent Doom.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces
Namor: Conquered Shores #5 concludes the limited run with jaw-dropping art, dramatic moments, and a few surprises. However, the ending ignores most of the problems made worse by the adventure, so your satisfaction with the conclusion may fall short.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 