Art by: Riley Rossmo
Colors by: Ivan Plascencia
Letters by: Tom Napolitano
Cover art by: Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascencia
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: February 13, 2024
Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5 brings the chickens home to roost when the Sandman goes after Col. Breckinridge for stealing Dodds's research journal and framing Kluge.
Is Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5 Good?
Robert Venditti sets up the pins before knocking them down in Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5. In the penultimate issue, you get plenty of Sandman action, secrets revealed, and a last-minute twist that paves the way for a dramatic finale.
When last we left Wesley Dodds, he concluded that Vanderlyle and Col. Breckinridge were partners in killing Kluge and burning down the Dodds's home as a cover to steal Wesley's research journal. When Wesley moved to confront Vanderlyle, he found the Fog strangling Vanderlyle. In the scuffle, the Fog fell through the skyscraper window to his death.
Now, the Sandman infiltrates Fort Hamilton to capture Col. Breckinridge, still believing the Colonel is at the heart of this conspiracy. The Sandman succeeds and spirits the one-armed officer away to an abandoned warehouse for interrogation. There, the Sandman secretly records the Colonel confessing to stealing the journal and framing Kluge because any price is worth paying for total military victory.
You might think the mystery is solved, and all is set right, but no. There's one more person in on the conspiracy, and that character isn't through with bloodshed or Wesley's research journal.
What's great about Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5? Venditti delivers a tight, dramatic, well-paced, action-packed script. Wesley's moral angst over being the root cause of lethal gassing is still present, but Wesley's angst fuels his action and determination to get the job done, which elevates his status as a hero.
What's not so great about Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5? This issue confirms the Fog is dead, and while his ending makes sense, his character development, in hindsight, was lacking. It would have served this story better to make the Fog a more pivotal character instead of a generic henchman.
How's the art? It's fine for what it is. Riley Rossmo's grotesque noir style is certainly an acquired taste, and this mini-series is still a more subdued version of Rossmo's art, but it's as good as it's going to get, so it's fine.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Bits and Pieces:
Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5 brings the penultimate issue to a close with the end of the mystery before a last-minute twist sets up a physical and emotional conflict in the finale. Venditti's detective noir style and execution are on point, and Rossmo's art is as good as it gets in this issue, so here's hoping the creative team can stick the landing.
Is Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5 Good?
Robert Venditti sets up the pins before knocking them down in Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5. In the penultimate issue, you get plenty of Sandman action, secrets revealed, and a last-minute twist that paves the way for a dramatic finale.
When last we left Wesley Dodds, he concluded that Vanderlyle and Col. Breckinridge were partners in killing Kluge and burning down the Dodds's home as a cover to steal Wesley's research journal. When Wesley moved to confront Vanderlyle, he found the Fog strangling Vanderlyle. In the scuffle, the Fog fell through the skyscraper window to his death.
Now, the Sandman infiltrates Fort Hamilton to capture Col. Breckinridge, still believing the Colonel is at the heart of this conspiracy. The Sandman succeeds and spirits the one-armed officer away to an abandoned warehouse for interrogation. There, the Sandman secretly records the Colonel confessing to stealing the journal and framing Kluge because any price is worth paying for total military victory.
You might think the mystery is solved, and all is set right, but no. There's one more person in on the conspiracy, and that character isn't through with bloodshed or Wesley's research journal.
What's great about Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5? Venditti delivers a tight, dramatic, well-paced, action-packed script. Wesley's moral angst over being the root cause of lethal gassing is still present, but Wesley's angst fuels his action and determination to get the job done, which elevates his status as a hero.
What's not so great about Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5? This issue confirms the Fog is dead, and while his ending makes sense, his character development, in hindsight, was lacking. It would have served this story better to make the Fog a more pivotal character instead of a generic henchman.
How's the art? It's fine for what it is. Riley Rossmo's grotesque noir style is certainly an acquired taste, and this mini-series is still a more subdued version of Rossmo's art, but it's as good as it's going to get, so it's fine.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Bits and Pieces:
Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5 brings the penultimate issue to a close with the end of the mystery before a last-minute twist sets up a physical and emotional conflict in the finale. Venditti's detective noir style and execution are on point, and Rossmo's art is as good as it gets in this issue, so here's hoping the creative team can stick the landing.
8/10
