Doctor Doom showed up to fight the Tiger Division! Find out if a depowered Taegukgi can lead his team to victory in Tiger Division #5 by Marvel Comics!

TIGER DIVISION #5 (OF 5)

Writer: Emily Kim
Artist: Creees Lee and Craig Yeung
Colorist: Yen Nitro
Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Editor: Lindsey Cohick
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 22nd, 2023 

Previously in Tiger Division: The backstory of Taegukgi is revealed! Tae used to be a criminal working with Min-Jae. When they tried to steal the Psylot Gem, Tae was left for dead, and he gained the gem’s powers. Realizing he didn’t want that life, Tae became a hero and led the Tiger Division. Min-Jae also survived, created a power amplifier, and managed to trap Taegukgi and depower him. Now Doctor Doom has arrived to take power for himself!

Tiger Division #5 starts with Doctor Doom revealing that he is working with Min-Jae, but the power of the Psylot Gem belongs to him. Min-Jae, realizing he was betrayed, still decides to work with Doom, fearing for his life. Tiger Division jumps into action and fights the robots surrounding them while protecting a depowered Tae. Tae remembers his past right when Doctor Doom prepares the killing blow. Tae appeals to Min-Jae about his shame in his past, and Min-Jae saves him. The Tiger Division acts and reconfigures the Psylot Gem amplifier to power Tae back up. When the smoke settles, Doctor Doom and Min-Jae are missing. In the next Tiger Division meeting, Tae decides that the best way to regain the trust of his team is to reveal everything about his family and past.

Over the last week, I’ve seen a lot of online “discourse” about Asians and Asian Americans and how they classify on the minority scale. And I’m exhausted by some of the lost histories that aren’t taught to many people. So I picked up Tiger Division #5 for review this week, thinking about these things. And I have to say, it is lovely that we have Emily Kim writing this series and humanizing these characters. The moments between Tae and Lady Bright are engaging and enjoyable to read. And on top of that, this comic and these storylines are needed today.

However, I’m lukewarm about including Doctor Doom in the series. Doctor Doom is a tool to help Min-Jae have a change of heart. Despite being the most significant threat, he doesn’t feel like a real antagonist. With that in the back of my mind, the climax doesn’t feel strong, and I think Min-Jae should have pulled all the strings.

Lastly, I think the art in this book is incredible. There are a lot of characters participating in these action sequences. I am impressed with the ability to keep everything clear to the reader and show a little bit of each character.

I am happy we got this series, and I can’t wait to see Emily Kim return to Silk later this year. Tiger Division #5 has a much-needed place in the Marvel Universe and deserves a read when it comes out as a trade. And as an Asian-American, I am happy to see these characters get a comic series. Considering that Tiger Division #5 is a 4 out of 5 stars.