Writers: Scott Snyder
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Letterer: Andworld Design
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Release Date: April 10, 2024
Price: $4.99
Reviewer: Christopher Patterson
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Dark Spaces: Dungeon #5 Review.
THE DISPATCH
Dark Spaces: Dungeon #5 starts where you may not expect it to. Instead of the story focusing on the shocking moment at hand, we go back 21 years to see Madoc, after returning to his house, talking with his mother. This moment is so emotional and successful because it sets the stakes. It feels like a memory from the past that helps us remember what happened to Madoc and makes us more committed to him as a character, which, in turn, raises the stakes more than before.
After this, the story shifts fully to taking down this mysterious villain, as we see Detective Madoc enter their place. Before Madoc can reach Cal, the lights blind him. This scene effectively heightens the tension, as Madoc narrowly misses saving Cal, only to see, when he is able to see well, the villain standing right in front of him. After a quick and well-designed fight ensues, Madoc is quickly taken down but is saved just in time by Tyler, who reunites with his son. Later, we discover that Tyler is actually one of the villains himself, and Madoc has never left the dungeon. Rather than feeling like a well-earned twist, it feels too obvious upon re-reading, based on obvious clues laid out throughout the story. Although this choice may not be my favorite, the series generally handles it with care, and as an ending, it stands decently on its own. Though, albeit, less strong than the issues from before.
There are also some truly noteworthy moments in this comic, such as a showdown between Madoc and the mysterious villain. In this, the blinding lights at first make it hard for Madoc to see, attempting to benefit from Cal’s voice, before suddenly the villain appears right in front of Madoc. This scene is truly chilling, primarily due to its masterful writing. What makes this scene so brilliant is that we, as an audience, notice that Madoc is near the villain, but he doesn’t notice until the next page. What makes this so genius is that, while it is a simple scene, it works well to increase tension. We know something that the main protagonists don’t even know for that short amount of time. While this is a short scene, what makes it so commendable is the fact that most other creatives would have simply made him appear, and Madoc would automatically notice him and leave it at that. Instead, the writer here meticulously crafted his presence, ensuring this one little scene was well-thought out and engaging. In many ways, it’s like having a built-up scary moment versus simply a jump scare. This comic, while sometimes falling into tropes and cliches, embraces them and does, most of the time, a consistently good job of handling them.
ART
The artwork in Dark Spaces: Dungeon #5 bursts with creativity in all the brilliant and terrifying ways you come to expect from this series. The unique, stylized, and very detailed designs bring a fearful amount of realism to this series. A sense of realism is one effective tool many mystery comics use, and this one is no different. This series achieves this in a variety of ways, but one key way it does so is through art. This comic, and especially this issue, use a variety of semi-realistic faces and designs that help to make it all seem more terrifying. While it’s easy to distinguish characters from reality, the artists’ portrayal of realism in the character designs evokes a sense of fear within you. It makes it feel too real and, in many ways, ureal, as this story isn’t trying to be super realistic but instead a terrifying mystery. Which it accomplishes, mainly quite well.
If I had to choose one of the most standout elements of this comic, it would be the paneling, since the paneling here is unmatched in many ways in how it truly takes the quality of this comic to newer levels. This paneling embraces the narrative and, in many ways, feels like an element of what defines this comic. At times, the paneling here is so meticulous that the comic, without it, would lose its uniqueness and quality if not for this level of thought. Towards the end, when it is revealed that Tyler was working with the villain, the paneling seems to take on a more stressful style in its approach to pacing out the moments, capturing an almost rushed slideshow of moments that effectively convey the intensity of the situation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Dark Spaces: Dungeon #5 is a generally satisfying conclusion to a mostly enjoyable series. It’s a work that provides a compelling mystery story that might intrigue most who pick it up. The artwork stands out and truly captures the intensity of Madoc’s fight against this mysterious villain. The story in this issue is truly fantastic and a good read for any mystery lover, with a finale twist that may be predictable but is still quite enjoyable. If you are looking for an interesting and compelling mystery to read, this should be on your radar.