Radiant Pink and her villain-turned-romantic-interest Kelly are almost home from outer space. Can their relationship survive the return to Earth? Your Major Spoilers review of Radiant Pink #5 from Image Comics awaits!

RADIANT PINK #5

Writer: Meghan Camarena and Melissa Flores
Artist: Emma Kubert
Colorist: Rebecca Nalty
Letterer: Becca Carey
Editor: Michael Busuttil
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 24, 2023

Previously in Radiant Pink: Home is finally within Eva and Kelly’s grasp, but this last leap will take everything they’ve got. Will their relationship survive the journey home?

And, more importantly… will they?

SPRING BREAK RELATIONSHIP SYNDROME

After the time jump that led into the last issue, we again experience a shift forward, with this issue opening back in Indiana, as Eva has returned home and returned to her normal streaming schedule… with one addition. Her fans are psyched to see EvaPLAYYS with her new girlfriend, but Kelly proves to be disastrous at the whole “secret identity” part of being a Radiant. After nearly giving away Eva’s secret more than once, Kelly gets into a heated argument with producer Maddie, which then turns into an argument between Eva and Maddie. Of course, there’s also the matter of the stolen technology that Kelly has been wearing since issue #1, which the actual owners have come to take back, only to have her brutally murder them both. Radiant Pink arrives just in time to find her girlfriend gloating over her victims, which leads Kelly to decide that it’s all Maddie’s fault.

After all, as comics have taught us, once you start killing your problems, it seems to become one of the easiest recurring solutions.

AN UNEXPECTED ENDING

The battle between Radiant Pink and Fake EMT Kelly is short, brutal, and unpredictable, as Pink/Eva spends most of her time trying to convince her girlfriend to seek help for her new homicidal urges, all the while finding that her own Radiant powers just make Kelly more powerful. Of course, she’s not ALL powerful, and the end of the conflict dovetails beautifully into the resolution of Eva’s ongoing issues, including the important matter of her mental health. The art in that closing segment is lovely, showing Eva’s range of emotions, but there are a number of instances where Kelly’s face extends into a horrifying visage that looks like Ghostface from Scream. In concert with the coloring, which is vibrant throughout (befitting a character whose signature color is pink), the visuals are overall excellent, even with those off-putting moments.

BOTTOM LINE: ANOTHER UNIQUE MASSIVE-VERSE TITLE

As a final chapter, Radiant Pink #5 manages to be the difficult combination of satisfying AND surprising, closing out this chapter of Pink’s adventures in fine fashion, including a cameo from Nathan/Radiant Black and a rather shocking end for one of our cast, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. The issue ends with a promise that Radiant Pink will return, and after a series this entertaining, I’m thrilled to hear it.

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RADIANT PINK #5

73%

73%

Seems Like The Ending I Didn't Want

Like parent-title Radiant Black, this book takes classic superhero storytelling and gives it new twists and new life, including giving Eve the ending I didn't know she needed. Well-done.

• Writing

  7
• Art

  8
• Coloring

  7
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
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