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Bone Orchard Mythos: Ten Thousand Black Feathers #5
- Writer:
- Jeff Lemire
- Artist:
- Andrea Sorrentino
- Letterer:
- Steve Wands
- Cover Artist:
- Andrea Sorrentino
- Publisher:
- Image Comics
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-01-11
- Colorist:
- Dave Stewart
Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino's Bone Orchard Mythos is a modern horror classic in the making. They introduced fans to their new universe in their 2022 graphic novel, The Passageway. The dynamic duo concluded the second story set in their macabre world in The Bone Orchard Mythos: Ten Thousand Black Feathers #5, out this week from Image Comics. Written by Lemire, with art by Sorrentino, colors by Dave Stewart, and letters by Steve Wands -- this oversized final issue delivers a gorgeous and unsettling ending that represents some of both creators' best work.
The first three issues of Ten Thousand Black Feathers methodically explored Trish's painful obsession with the disappearance of her childhood best friend, Jackie. Told in Lemire's effective, melancholy style, the series started as an intriguing slow burn. But the fifth and final issue is a fast-paced adventure that follows Trish into the fantastical, terrifying underworld to rescue her long-lost friend.
Lemire brilliantly capitalizes on all of the subtle world-building he's been doing since Issue #1 of the series. Ten Thousand Black Feathers #5 represents the most thorough exploration of the nightmarish landscape lurking beneath the surface of the Bone Orchard Mythos stories. This issue is the culmination of the dread and fears that Lemire has been cultivating throughout the series, so Trish's journey feels natural, even when she appears to be operating solely on dream logic and intuition.
The final scenes of this issue are sure to stick with readers. Lemire delivers a solid, satisfying ending that resolves the series' central conflict but also leaves a lot up to interpretation. It's difficult to determine whether or not this qualifies as a happy ending, but it's certainly a fascinating one. While Trish's story seems to end in this issue, Lemire makes it clear that this is only the beginning for the world he and Sorrentino are building.
Sorrentino's art is as stunning as always. He subtly repeats several page layouts from the first issue to wrap the story up in a symmetrical bow and to reinforce some of the series' visual themes. His depiction of the surreal, desolate world Trish explores and the creatures she encounters is pitch-perfect. His grim, otherworldly designs exceed expectations and give credence to Trish's reluctance to venture into this subterranean hellscape. At first glance, the geography of this new world appears to be an archetypal fantasy landscape. But upon closer inspection, the audience discovers a truly alien landscape that defies categorization at every turn.
Stewart's harsh colors add a foreboding atmosphere to Sorrentino's unforgettable artwork. The legendary colorist casts a murky light over the landscape. It's difficult to tell whether it's day or night, which adds to the disorienting and frightening tone of the issue. Bright, bold reds stand out against the rest of the color palette to punctuate particularly action-packed scenes. Wands' lettering and design complement the rest of the creative team's work perfectly. The contrast between the fonts he uses for narration and dialogue amplifies the emotional nature of the dialogue without drawing attention away from the rest of the comic.
Bone Orchard Mythos: Ten Thousand Black Feathers #5 is a surprising, thought-provoking conclusion to an incredible series. It's rare to encounter such a satisfying conclusion that leaves so many questions unanswered. Lemire, Sorrentino, and the rest of the creative team have created one of the most impressive horror comics in recent memory that's sure to leave fans wanting more.