Now that they have found her, does Doc understand what is happening on this planet? Has she made the right decision, and should Athos and friends follow along? Find out in Man’s Best #5 from BOOM! Studios.
MAN’S BEST #5
Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
Artist: Jesse Lonergan
Colorist: Jesse Lonergan
Letterer: Jeff Powell
Editor: Eric Harburn
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 17, 2024
Previously in Man’s Best: The ship’s emotional support animals, Porthos, Athos, and Lovey, follow the kidnapper’s scent, hoping to find Doc. They catch up to the kidnapper and try to get it to tell them where Doc is, but the creature slips through another gate. The animals cannot force it to open for them. Lovey feels hopeless, but Porthos continues to believe they will succeed. Athos realizes that their past experiences frame their current beliefs. As he wonders how they can possibly work together, he has an idea. He finds a shard from the kidnapper, which lets them through the gate where they find Doc just about to kill the Captain!
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
Man’s Best #5 opens with Doc, and a large Klanger standing over the wounded Captain as Athos realizes that none of the animals were the leader of their group. Doc was always the boss. Whatever she says is supposed to be right, isn’t it? He steps in front of the Captain and looks up at Doc.
The world goes topsy-turvy for a moment and Doc drops her control pad. She loses control of the Klanger, and it shoots her. The animals know they must save Doc, but they no longer have their special suits. They are just animals. Thinking quickly, Athos starts to distract the Klanger and orders Porthos to pull Doc away from it. Lovey catches on and reminds Athos that he said earlier that the Klangers can’t hit them easily when they are close. Athos is astonished that he has paid attention. Then Athos directs Porthos to get the control pad. She breaks it and the Klanger collapses.
Right into the Don’t Touch, which is a terraformer full of small baby humans. Right then, the planet reaches its destination, a cosmically large one-eyed being. The geometric creatures, like the kidnapper, explain that this is the One Who Provides. They communicate for it, and it has linked all their minds so they can communicate. It determines which species in the universe, of those risking extinction, are worthy and gives them a new place to start. All of a sudden, everything starts to make sense.
Doc was in communication with them and told them about Earth and how she hoped to find refuge for her people. The Captain realizes that she means the cargo of stolen infants and not all of Earth’s people. She explains that the corporation did not take her seriously and even if they did, they would choose to save themselves. She wants to start fresh. To be fair, she has a point.
The creatures announce that one being will be allowed to make the decision whether the new world will be provided only for the people here, or for all of Earth. They choose the Captain. Doc quickly tries to explain the consequences. If humanity cannot live in harmony with all the other beings here, they will all be ejected. But the Captain has a family he does not want to leave behind. Doc shoots him, but Porthos intercepts.
The Captain is still hit, and Doc is stunned by Porthos’ sacrifice. The One Who Provides then chooses Athos to speak for Earth. Athos must make the biggest decision ever just as he realizes how small each one of them is, and how important and precious the small things in life are. That decision closes out the story, and it is a wonderful ending to read.
DON’T TOUCH THE DON’T TOUCH!
The art of Man’s Best #5 is dynamic and it keeps us guessing. It is not until halfway through this issue that everyone is granted the ability to speak to and understand everyone else, so while we know what the conflict between the Captain and Doc is about, the animals do not. They feel that Doc is always right, but they cannot deny their own affection for the Captain and the very strong feeling that he should not be hurt. I also really liked how the animals came together even without their power suits. They have been learning how to work together to accomplish bigger things, and they have been paying attention, even Lovey and Porthos.
The build-up to the terraformer opening has been solid, starting right at the beginning when the animals know it only as the Don’t Touch. They fear the worst – explosions at the very least. And when it starts to open, they all work together, small as they are, to try to close it. When it instead reveals an array of life support bubbles with tiny humans in what look like miniature life vests, we are momentarily disarmed by the sheer cuteness of it all.
BOTTOM LINE: FATE THROUGH THE EYES OF COMPANION ANIMALS
Man’s Best #5, completes a compelling story about the fate of the world. Seeing it unfold through the eyes of the companion animals gives it an interesting framework and shows us how compassion and affection can make a difference.
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Man's Best #5
Athos, Porthos, and Lovey find Doc and must quickly figure out whether to help her…or stop her!
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By day, she’s a mild-mannered bureaucrat and Ms. Know-It-All. By night, she’s a dance teacher and RPG player (although admittedly not on the same nights). On the weekends, she may be found judging Magic, playing Guild Wars 2 (badly), or following other creative pursuits. Holy Lack of Copious Free Time, Batman! While she’s always wished she had teleportation as her superpower, she suspects that super-speed would be much more practical because then she’d have time to finish up those steampunk costumes she’s also working on.