2023 has been packed with a lot of standout new comic book series. One of the standouts has been James Tynion and Fernando Blanco’s W0rldtr33. The series has been an intense sci-fi thriller that has utilized a lot of things we are seeing going on in the real world right now. With W0rldtr33 #5 Tynion and Blanco will be wrapping up the first story arc of the series. The teaser mentions that this story arc will be ending in a way no one saw coming. We got a chance to get an early copy of W0rldtr33 #5. Find out how it turned out with our advance review of W0rldtr33 #5.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Fernando Blanco
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
SOLICITATION
“With PH34R ascendent, Gabriel is forced to pull a trigger that will change the shape of the entire world. No sacrifice is too great to stop the spread of the Undernet…” – Image Comics
REVIEW
James Tynion and Fernando Blanco certainly did not lie that the first story arc for W0rldtr33 was going to end one way or another. W0rldtr33 #5 delivers an ending that was the ultimate endgame for what this series set out to tell. It is something that fits the narrative for this series but not a complete home run as W0rldtr33 was set up to be.
Part of the magic of W0rldtr33 is how Tynion and Blanco have created a world filled with thrills that are mostly done through dialogue. Every word spoken in W0rldtr33 #5 has as much impact as any punch or knife attack. This is saying something as W0rldtr33 #5 certainly has a lot of violence. That violence all feeds into the greater narrative of the choices our lead characters make.
In this final issue, it’s Gabriel’s decision that sets everything into motion. His decision ultimately sets the course of how the story is ultimately resolved. The way it is done certainly utilizes the suddenness of the ending to meet the personal stakes of the cast.
This ending highlights the various relationships within the cast we have been following. The way the cast reacts highlights how they didn’t know the impact of the Undernet they created until it was too late. It is this reaction that drives home the journey W0rldtr33 took us on.
While it certainly impacts all of the characters we have been following throughout W0rldtr33 there is a missed opportunity to see the bigger scope. Tynion and Blanco utilize a specific trope to showcase the impact of the decision that does not fully work. There is a missed opportunity to have the impact immediately felt to get over how Gabriel’s decision was world-altering. It did not take away from the overall story but certainly something that was a noticeable missing piece.
That said the artwork was once again top-notch. Blanco and Jordie Bellaire do a great job with how the different ways turn out are showcased. What particularly stood out is the use of lighting. Dimly lit scenes have an intensity that drives home the seriousness of what is going on. The same goes for the scenes that use a lot more color that get over the chaotic nature of the cover character.
FINAL THOUGHTS
James Tynion, Fernando Blanco, and Jordie Bellaire’s chemistry shines throughout this final issue as they complete their world-altering endgame-level story with W0rldtr33 #5. The ending firmly places W0rldtr33 as an epic thriller that’s one of the must-read comics of 2023.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10