“Copperhead” #5 concludes the comic’s first story arc. Mysteries and story threads teased from the very first issue are resolved satisfactorily and most of the primary cast members get moments to shine.
Written by Jay FaerberCover by Scott Godlewski
Illustrated by Scott Godlewski
Colored by Ron Riley
Lettered by Thomas MauerThere are no easy answers for Sheriff Clara Bronson in the conclusion of our first story arc!
The story begins right where we left off with Clara about to arrest Ishmael for the murder of the Sewells. Readers expecting an action-packed showdown are in for a surprise when Ishmael effortlessly turns the tables on Sheriff Branson. The revelation that it was in fact the natives who were responsible for the murder results in an uneasy alliance between the two as they escape from a horde of angry natives.
The biggest revelation occurs when we learn that Floyd Sewell, a gambling addict estranged from the family, was ultimately the one responsible for the murders. The character-focused writing in this chapter added great depth to Mrs. Sewell protected her wayward son from prosecution while also banning him from further interaction with the surviving family members.
An element of the writing that I enjoyed was the evolution of character dynamics. Over the course of the previous installments, various characters such as Clara and Mrs. Sewell got off on the wrong foot and seemed to be heading on a collision course. With the resolution of the murder case, Clara and Mrs. Sewell become friendlier as Mrs. Sewell became her son’s babysitter. It will be interesting to see future interactions between her and the Bronson household.
Additionally, this chapter finally saw the introduction of Hugo, the missing dog Annie was searching for in “Copperhead” #1. His reunion with Annie was one of the most endearing moments in this chapter and it’ll be interesting to see how the creative team plans on using him in future.
“Copperhead” #5’s artwork was excellent, as always. For the first time since the debut issue, Godlewski did not open with a splash page. Instead, he utilized an effective, tension-filled seven panel layout to build up the showdown between Sheriff Branson and Ishmael.The rainy setting was well rendered and done in a slightly more subtle way than in the previous chapter in order to put the focus squarely on the characters. The inking and coloring perfectly enhanced the unfolding drama as close ups were again used to ratchet up the tension and suspense.
The issue’s most effective action sequence occurs shortly after Clara discovers Hugo hiding behind a mound. As a group of angry natives advance towards them, Faerber and Godlweski create a sense of suspense by combining script and artwork in an interesting way. The last panel in the page before the confrontation is just rain and darkness with Ishmael ominously describing what’s coming their way. This succeeds in creating a feeling of unbearable tension as the reader is left wondering what danger remains unseen.
The next page allows letterer Thomas Mauerer’s work to shine with my favorite use of sound effects in the series so far. Hugo’s growling increases the tension further and when the aliens attack, Ishmael’s burst of covering fire as they make their escape made the scene much more visceral. Even the sound effects as the vehicle escapes provided a nice conclusion to a very tense encounter.
The transition to the next scene was handled masterfully. The vehicle’s bright headlights blended seamlessly with the sunrise used as an establishing shot in the following page.
With all the major plot elements addressed in this chapter, “Copperhead” #5 also succeeded in teasing what’s to come in future installments. On the last page, we see an alien prison planet where we find a mysterious, bearded character alone in a cell with nothing but a picture of Clara Bronson. Who is this person? Who put him in prison? Does he have sinister intentions towards Clara? Is he the person she was writing to at the beginning of “Copperhead” #1? The reader is left to ponder these questions as we anxiously await the next issue.
