The Blood Queen #5 Review

Should fanboys and fangirls buy this? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

Desperate to prevent a war, the lands call together a Council of Kings (and we know that didn’t go well last time). Meanwhile, Jon Hunter and Sir Ferenc investigate a murder in the castle, the trail of which leads to a new conspiracy. As the conflicts escalate, Elizabeth leads Helena and Sara on a mission to uncover the secret of the burning fields. This leads her to a startling revelation and the specter of a new threat rising. And when she’s confronted with a harsh reality, how far will Elizabeth go in the name of blood and magic? Dynamite’s latest fantasy epic is building to a fever pitch in “Reign in Blood”!

It’s been awhile but the various threads at play are finally crossing in a rather enlightened way. When a creative team sets the stage and lets their narrative dominoes fall ever-so-slightly the experience can be rewarding. And in this specific outing they leave enough room for those “uh huh” and “I get it” moments.

This release has a few notable twists and turns, thanks in large part to the carefully orchestrated words by Troy Brownfield. It’s hard not to sit back and enjoy the subtle escalation of hostilities and politics within this fantastic land, as Lady Elizabeth journeys forth to solve a mystery or two in a plagued field. In the end there’s a lot to admire, especially the smartly executed dialogue that further cements the importance of secondaries such as Jon Hunter and Sir Ferenc. The comic is just that good.

Followers that have been along for the ride since #1 are bound to be intrigued by the revelations within the confines of these pages, but it’s the illustrations that will no doubt keep their attention. Fritz Casas gives each sequence delicate but deliberate pencil strokes that perfectly inform the comings and goings of a story that’s ripe with plot. Add in the dynamic layers of color by Kristy Swan and this affair quickly turns into a display that’s a standout in a more than varied industry.

The Blood Queen #5 is a strong step in the right direction for a new epic. The franchise has planted quite a few seeds along the way and it’s going to be interesting to see how the creative team handles them in the future. Highly recommended.