Comic Book Review: Dark Times #5

Dark Times #5 marked the end to an arc that lasted for more than a year; that brought doubts to fans that Dark Times was still being made, and taught us the hard lesson that the good guys don't always win. With amazing art by Doug Wheatly and colors by Ronda Pattison, this issue took out the Path to Nowhere with a melancholy bang. The entire basis of this arc revolves around Bomo Greenbark, and his Jedi friend, Jass Dennir, going on a quest to save Bomo's wife and daughter from slavery. In issue four of the Path to Nowhere, we learn that Bomo's wife, Resa, is dead, and that his daughter had been sold to a rich merchant on the planet of Esseles.

So the setup for issue five was clear; they'd go to Esseles and rescue Greenbark's daughter and live happily ever after. But things go wrong in this issue. It ends up that the merchant killed Mesa long before our heros arrive to rescue her; to eat her. To eat her! Whoever wrought this story is a very disturbing person. I will also say they did am excellent job executing this plot; the words, the expressions of terror and anger on faces. I found myself tearing up when I read it. A comic book has never evoked this reaction from me. Dass Jennir ends up gunning down the man in cold blood (kill nosurian-eating bastard!), and then flys away in the guy's ship, leaving Bomo. I have no idea where this story is going to go in future issues, though after this, I plan to start picking up Dark Times on a regular basis. I was really impressed with their guttsiness in this last issue, and I can't wait to see what they come up with in the future.

This issue was fitting end called "The Path to Nowhere" in a series called "Dark Times." I can't say I'm disappointed with it, because overall, it was a good issue. I'm just a little shocked that they decided to end it this way. Pick it up if you've been reading the Path to Nowhere.