Sebastian Harlow has joined forces the local Nazis to free Ezekiel from Thorndyke Scar. But is it rescue or revenge that he has in mind? Find out in Sins of the Black Flamingo #5 from Image Comics!

SINS OF THE BLACK FLAMINGO #5

Writer: Andrew Wheeler
Artist: Travis Moore
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Editor: Andy Khouri
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 26, 2022

Previously in Sins of the Black Flamingo: Sebastian Harlow is captured by Merrilee Pepper, the curator of the Museum of American Heritage and Culture, which Harlow robbed back in issue #1. She wants to trade him for Ezekiel. She tells the story of Ezekiel’s origin in a ritual performed 200 years ago. The men performing the ritual died in it, but the young man who became Ezekiel survived, as did the criminal who had captured him – Thorndyke Scar. Scar has become immortal by drinking angel’s blood. Ofelia and Abel meet up with them, and they perform the exchange. Then Merrilee orders her thugs to kill them all. Abel intercepts the bullets. Then Thorndyke Scar shows up, blows up Merrilee’s SUV, and takes Ezekiel. With everything back to square one, Harlow calls Merrilee and makes a deal with her.

A DESPERATE PLAN

Sins of the Black Flamingo #5 opens with Ofelia trying to talk Harlow out of his plan, unsuccessfully. He has recovered the Devil’s Tooth, and he believes that if he touches it again, he will be able to locate Ezekiel. He grasps it so hard that a shard breaks off. But he locates Ezekiel.

Ofelia meets with Thorndyke Scar. She feels Harlow has lost his mind and his soul. She cannot stand working with him anymore and wants to make a deal with Scar, who is skeptical. She shares that Merrilee Pepper is coming to his condo development that night, a converted church where he is hiding the Angel. And she brought the Devil’s Tooth with her. All she asks is that he does not kill Harlow.

Merrilee and Harlow are on a rooftop scouting out the location. Her men radio up to her that they were attacked and outnumbered by some private security. Scar arrives in a helicopter. Merrilee accuses Harlow of double-crossing her and shoots him. Ofelia is appalled and reminds Scar that her deal was that Harlow lives. Quite frankly, he does not care. He orders his men to kick her out.

Scar has the Devil’s Tooth and goes to the container where he is holding Ezekiel. Things get a little complicated here. Harlow appears from the dark burning incense that paralyzes people with fear. He is wearing a skull which lets him still move. When Scar cannot move, he gets the key to the container, unlocks it, goes to Ezekiel, and gives him a big kiss.

Ofelia and Abel are nearby. Abel asks if Harlow is going to be okay. Apparently, all of this has been part of the plan, including some bond with Abel. If Harlow dies, so will Abel. Perish the thought, but at that moment, Scar grabs Harlow from behind in a chokehold. Then he proceeds to beat him up in front of Ezekiel while saying how much crueler he would be keeping the Angel in captivity. Then he stabs him in the neck with the Devil’s Tooth.

Ofelia wants to break the bond between Harlow and Abel. Why should Harlow not die now? He has been skating on the edge for so long. Abel begs her to let him have one last chance. Harlow is not quite dead. He has a little speech for Thorn, just long enough to reveal that this was the distraction.

KEEPING ONE STEP AHEAD

The art of Sins of the Black Flamingo #5 rewards those who pay attention. Everything has led to this issue, and to this plan. Harlow and his team all have their parts to play, and they must be convincing. We even are caught momentarily by Ofelia’s sincerity when she offers to give Harlow up to Scar. Harlow has spent almost the entire arc not listening to her advice. And when Harlow is shot and falls from the rooftop, she sells it even though this was Abel impersonating Harlow. I thought that was a clever touch.

The story keeps one foot firmly in reality so again when magic is used, it does look unearthly. When Harlow appears with his special incense, its smoke appears bright pink, a pink that matches Harlow’s sequined flamingo mask, which is a terrific detail. On a second look, the skull he wears around his neck may be a flamingo skull on a chain of vertebrae. Unearthly and larger than life is a look that fits the Black Flamingo.

BOTTOM LINE: LOVE, DEATH, AND THE HOPE OF REDEMPTION

I do like that Sins of the Black Flamingo ties up all the loose ends we have been given and winds the plot around multiple bad guys. As those bad guys are also all bigots, their comeuppance is particularly satisfying. While the story is a thriller at its heart, it also touches on some bigger concepts which makes it a more interesting read.

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