Nothing ruins a night out like a secret mystical cabal seeking to steal your mystic flames. Your Major Spoilers review of Fire Power #5 from Image Comics awaits!
FIRE POWER #5
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Chris Samnee
Colorist: Matt Wilson
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Editor: Sean Mackiewicz
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 4, 2020
Previously in Fire Power: Owen and Kellie Johnson’s weekly dinner date is ruined! The Dragon’s Claw desires Owen’s Fire Power, and they won’t take no for an answer!
THE DRAGON’S CLAW ATTACKS!
We open with a massive armored warrior holding Kellie Johnson by the throat and trying to convince Owen to stand down to protect her… when he realizes she has a gun. Kellie manages to get off a shot, but he blocks it, and the kung-fu fight is back on. They fight off the first attack, only to realize that their entire family is being targeted, and heading for home as fast as they can. Back at the Johnson household, their children manage to get in a couple of shots on their attackers, but are easily out-classed, with one of their would-be kidnappers explaining that they don’t need EVERYONE alive…
…just before Owen annihilates her with a fireball. The Johnson’s free their kids, but end up continuing the fight as they escape, with Owen standing on top of their mundane sedan and fighting off various attacks, while Kellie puts her defensive driving skills to the test.
A SUDDEN RETURN!
This issue is pretty much all-action, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does gloss over a few moments. The Johnson children discover that dad is a practitioner of Fire Power in the middle of it all, which might need a little more focus in upcoming issues. The fight sequence is just beautiful, with each panel featuring something incredible, from a chain attack to Owen parrying a massive sword with his flames to Kellie using the car to put one unlucky member of The Dragon’s Claw down. it’s all really exciting, but as with many of Kirkman’s all-battle issues, it’s almost TOO fast for its own good. Thankfully, Samnee keeps everything grounded and exciting, with the quiet moments at the end (and the sudden return of Owen’s old teacher) balancing out the wild action of it all. I’d also like to have gotten the names of some of the people attacking, as several of them are pretty amazing designs.
BOTTOM LINE: FAST-PACED AND ALL ACTION
In short, if you’ve been worried about this book being nothing but more Iron Fist, Fire Power #5 should be a pleasant surprise, balancing life in the suburbs with secret combat disciplines and providing a LOT of truly impressive fight sequences without entirely neglecting the people involved, ending up with a well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars overall. I wasn’t entire sold on the first two issues of Fire Power, but now I’ve gone back to pick up the rest of the series, and look forward to what comes next. This book is good stuff.
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FIRE POWER #5
It's all fighty-fighty, with some inspired car-versus-kung-fu-master action, with Samnee's excellent art as the star of the show.
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Writing7
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Art9
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Coloring8
Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.