“Stealth” #5 strikes an even balance between action, backstory, and rising tension. These elements are superhero hallmarks, and we’re happy to see “Stealth” #5 excel on all fronts. This is the penultimate issue of the series, and the pacing feels tight — this is where we should be before the finale. The table has been set, and we’re eager for the final course. Let’s jump into it. minor spoilers ahead.
Cover by Jason HowardWritten by Mike Costa
Illustrated by Nate Bellegarde
Colored by Tamra Bonvillain
Lettered by Sal Cipriano
Created by Robert Kirkman & Marc SilvestriCan Detroit survive an all-out war between the lunatic Dead Hand and an out-of-control Stealth? Meanwhile, the Men in the Light are tired of Stealth’s son, Tony, asking the wrong questions…
In terms of plot, we’re at the crux of the matter. Tony has burst into Randy Schmidt’s office, bringing with him a litany of incriminating story leads about Stealth, and a gun to get the point across. Randy, for his part, holds his own and stares down the young journalist. There’s a whole other story line this issue featuring The Dead Hand and Stealth, and we’ll get to it in a second. First, it’s worth noting that all of the action between Randy and Tony in “Stealth” #5 happens in the former’s office, with little movement. Luckily, Costa is a master of pacing and tension, and the escalation between these two characters feels sincere, their disagreements tangible. There’s truly a sense of danger here. As a reader, we feel Tony getting in over his head. He feels desperate, a little unhinged, bet never stupid. Through his dialogue a gestures, which are rendered exceptionally by Bellegarde, we get the sense that he’s on his last leg, and that all the secrets of “Stealth” are one step away from bursting. In terms of story, this is a success — as readers we’re one issue away from the end, and Tony, similarly, is at his wits end. All this is to say that Tony Barber is a wildly empathetic protagonist, and feels like a true anchor to the story. Randy, for his part, plays the cocky and conniving lawyer well.
Quip filled dialogue is only half the battle. Belegarde’s illustration and Bonvillain’s coloring do a lot to paint our heroes and villains as complex, anxious individuals. The images throughout “Stealth” #5 are crisp and clear; and characters’ expressions are flawlessly rendered. This is perhaps clearest in The Dead Hand, the partially face-melted villain and criminal who stalks the pages of “Stealth” #5, eking out escapes and causing trouble.
And how about that villain? The Dead Hand moves and speaks with a kind of villain-y swagger common to super hero stories, but still feels original and worth following. Maybe that’s because in “Stealth” #5, we get some well deserved backstory. It’s worth mentioning that this is a story as much about Tony and Stealth’s relationship as it is about the constant flux of Detroit, the story’s setting. The Dead Hand’s back story falls directly in that purview, which feels good. Truly, everything in this story is well crafted.
When we first chose “Stealth” as our pick of the week back in March, we noted that this wasn’t just an action-y, super hero-y story, but an emotional character study. While “Stealth” #5 has more action and fewer quiet moments, it’s important to reiterate just how true this is. Stealth suffers from Alzheimer’s, and the way the disease strains his relationship with Tony serves as the central emotional crux of the story.
Costa handles the disease with grace, and in doing so brings up some deep, sometimes tragic questions. What does it mean for a super hero to lose their memory, to replay moments of their past in a city that has moved beyond them? Is a hero’s worst fate to become a nuisance? How do Stealth’s rise and fall mirror the rise and fall of Detroit itself? These are just a few of the questions, and for fear of devolving into a series of book club questions, we’ll leave it at that.
At this point, it should be clear that we’re excited to see what the finale brings us. “Stealth” #5 brings The Dead Hand, Tony, and Randy all under one roof. We have to imagine that Stealth isn’t far behind, and once he catches up, we’re sure that revelations and bullets will both start dropping.
Final Verdict: 9.0. Sharp and well paced, “Stealth” #5 gives us everything we want: intrigue, villain backstories, and a bright, emotional core.
