Writer: Katharyn Blair
Art: Pepe Larraz, Guru-eFX, and VC’s Joe Sabino
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price:$4.99
Reviewed by: Anonymous
Release Date: April 30th, 2025
A TIME TO FIGHT! The R&D Team is circling in on the cause of the Madness and its connection to the TVA’s not-so-nonexistent Department of Deferment. But as they dig deeper into the TVA’s secrets, they’ll find that some dangers should never be uncovered.
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THE DISPATCH
Katharyn Blair’s TVA series reaches its penultimate issue with TVA #5, and the stakes have never been higher. Building on the foundation laid in previous installments, this issue plunges the R&D team into the heart of the TVA’s hidden secrets, delivering a thrilling blend of intrigue and action.
Previous issues have established a unique dynamic within the TVA, led by Gwen Stacy (Ghost-Spider), and populated by a mix of familiar faces like Mobius and B-15, along with intriguing variants. Blair has skillfully balanced the inherent weirdness of the TVA with the emotional core of its characters, exploring the ramifications of temporal meddling and the burden of maintaining order across the multiverse. The series has also hinted at a deeper, more sinister undercurrent within the TVA, and it is this thread that TVA #5 pulls on with full force.
The story promises a confrontation with dangers that “should never be uncovered,” and the issue lives up to that threat. Blair masterfully crafts a narrative that ratchets up the tension as the R&D team closes in on the connection between the “Madness” and the mysterious Department of Deferment. This issue isn’t just about uncovering secrets; it’s about the consequences of that knowledge, and the lengths to which the TVA might go to protect its own existence.
The strength of TVA #5 lies in its ability to blend the procedural aspects of the TVA with a more character-driven exploration of morality and sacrifice. The team’s investigation forces them to confront uncomfortable truths about the organization they serve, blurring the lines between order and oppression. We see the characters grapple with difficult choices, questioning their allegiances and the true cost of maintaining the timeline.
Visually, the comic is compelling. The artwork captures the sterile, bureaucratic environment of the TVA while also conveying the growing sense of unease and danger. The design of the temporal anomalies and the depiction of the “Madness” are particularly effective, adding a layer of visual horror to the narrative.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, TVA #5 is a pivotal issue that propels the series towards its conclusion. It delivers on the promise of intrigue and action, while also deepening the emotional stakes for its characters. Katharyn Blair continues to demonstrate a strong understanding of the TVA’s unique mythology, crafting a story that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. This issue leaves readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the final confrontation.