THE FOX #5 by Dean Haspiel and J.M. DeMatteis
This issue sees the current story arc wrap as The Fox unites with The Shield during World War II. (This is a time travelling story, not a period piece.) Druid, a supersized villain with deity level powers, intends to take advantage of the crisis at this point in history and remake the world as he sees fit. Fox manages to act as the voice of reason and make Shield and his villains act as a cohesive unit. As a side note, I'd like to say that Master Race may be the best xenophobic name for a villain I've ever heard.
I found this comic to be rather enjoyable, but I wish there was a different way to end it. That doesn't mean I'm suggesting that all superheroes have to solve problems with their fists, but this is an instance that using your brain to neutralize a threat would've been a good way to go. The characters essentially somehow merge into a single entity called "Unity". I know we're trying to get a message of tolerance across here, but that's a tad groan inducing. Plus, I've never been a fan of characters merging into a single massive entity in the first place. Defeating a villain with good vibes made me recall
Ghostbusters 2. However, seeing an aged Shielf reminiscing in a present day bar with Master Race and Hachi Man was cool.
Despite my misgivings about how Druid was dealt with, I did find this to be a rather enjoyable comic. I'm not too familiar with The Fox, but he kind of feels like an amalgam of Batman and Spider-Man, yet has his own unique traits to offer. On that note, I think fans of the recent
Batman: The Brave and the Bold animated series and its tie-in comics should give this series a try. So, what does The Fox say? He would say that Haspiel and DeMatteis have created a quality comic book for readers of all ages.
Score: 7.5/10