Title: Port Of Earth #5

Publisher: Image / Top Cow

Words: Zachary Kaplan

Art: Andrea Mutti

Publication Date: May 9, 2018

Publisher’s Summary: The rogue alien visitor who broke Port protocols now lies dead, and the Port of Earth is open again for business. As our Consortium business partners arrive on Earth for a secretive meeting, Earth Security Agent Rice and partner McIntyre, traumatized and broken, discover there’s an unresolved threat at the ESA HQ.



Review:

After re-reading through the first four issues of this series that were conveniently collected in Port of Earth Vol. 1, I went into my reading of this issue ready and eager for what promised to be an exciting continuation of an inspired tale that stands heads taller than most of the other Sci-fi comic book series currently in print; Port of Earth #5 exceeded expectations and did so in a way that promised more than excitement. In Issue #5 of this ground-shaking series, it becomes apparent that we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s to come.

Kaplan’s scripting is sharp and each creative decision is made with purpose and in doing this, in plotting a story in a way that allows room for greater continued expansion, Kaplan provides readers with good reason to keep reading. Sure, there’s been a good deal of excitement thus far, but we’re only getting started. With that said, I was hoping for something a bit more earth-shattering to happen in this issue, but the book’s ending, which I am sure will be further expanded and examined in Issue #6, did a fine job in generating interest.

Andrea Mutti’s artwork fits the story perfectly, wonderfully complements Kaplan’s script, and leaves no question in readers’ minds as to what sort of story they’re reading. Issue after issue, Mutti has retained the overall feel of Port of Earth and has managed to continue to visually excite readers with inspired interpretations of the extraterrestrials that riddle Kaplan’s script.

While it is possible to jump into Port of Earth with this issue, I believe that starting from the beginning would benefit readers eager to experience this great series.

The Bottom Line:

As the plot in Port of Earth continues to thicken with extraterrestrial anxieties and close-to-home conspiracies, Port of Earth cements itself as being one of the most thought-provoking comic book series currently in production; and here, in its fifth issue, it becomes obvious that there is more to this story than initially thought. A must-read.