Alpha Flight #5 Review

Written by: Ed Brisson
Art by: Scott Godlewski, David Cutler
Colors by: Matt Milla
Letters by: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover art by: Leonard Kirk, Edgar Delgado (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: December 6, 2023

Alpha Flight #5 concludes the team’s mutant refugee adventure when Alpha Flight has no choice but to blow their cover to save the inhabitants of Krakoa North.

Is Alpha Flight #5 Good?

Alpha Flight #5 ends one of the few mini-series that takes Orchis’s takeover seriously with a hard-fought win, a tragic loss, and an uncertain future. Ed Brisson deserves credit for taking the easy road to a “happily ever after.”

When last we left Alpha Flight, the team “arrested” Feedback to keep up appearances that they were still subservient to Department H and Erika Doiron. Meanwhile, Laurent’s foolish desire to run from Krakoa North exposed the secret base’s location.

Now, Laurent returns to Krakoa North to help fight against a wave of Box Sentinels, while Alpha Flight changes course against Department H’s wishes to join the battle. Before the issue is resolved, some heroes will escape, others won’t, some will almost die, and one meets a permanent end.

What’s great about Alpha Flight #5? Again, Brisson is one of the few creators writing a story that treats Orchis and the fallout from the 2023 Hellfire Gala with urgency and seriousness. The “enemies closing in” levels of paranoia keep you on the edge of your seat. Kudos to Brisson, again, for ending on a somber yet believable note.

What’s not so great about Alpha Flight #5? It’s a nitpick. The inciting incident that makes the final battle possible is a boneheaded move by Laurent to strike out on his own. The mutants know they could be detected if they leave the grounds. They know exposure puts everyone’s life in danger. Yet, Laurent thoughtlessly walks into the woods as if he thought nobody would notice. Krakoa North’s exposure plays out well, but Laurent’s actions that make the exposure possible are a head-scratcher.

How’s the art? Godlewski and Cutler give readers plenty of cool Mutant-against-Sentinel action with mutants who are new or you haven’t seen in a long time. The art conveys a strong sense of drama, and the one death is impactfully done.

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

Alpha Flight #5 takes the hard path in the finale to show that there are no winners in war. Brisson is one of the few writers treating the Orchis threat with the seriousness, urgency, and drama it deserves, and the art team’s visuals look great.