MYSTIQUE #5 – The Plan in Action

Creative Team – Declan Shalvey(writer/artist). Matt Hollingsworth(color artist). VC’s Clayton Cowles(letterer). Declan Shalvey(cover artist).

Published by Marvel Entertainment

BE SURE TO CATCH UP WITH MYSTIQUE #4 HERE!

“Mystique and Nick Fury come face-to-face as their battle reaches its endgame! Caught in Mystique’s web of deception, how can Fury escape? And just what is she really after?!” (Credit: Marvel)

The Story

Mystique has been putting her mysterious plan into action, without any hint as to what it might be. Nick Fury has been after her for weeks, searching high and low, wherever he can. Mystique has harmed him every step of the way in any way she can, even ways we haven’t seen yet. But Nick Fury is a man on a mission and nothing will stop him. He has even gone so far as to bring in her wife, Destiny, into S.H.I.E.L.D. for intel.

At the end of Mystique #4, we discover that Nick Fury is actually her prisoner, a small but crucial piece of her larger plan. In Mystique #5, we finally get the long-awaited showdown between Fury and Mystique. Both characters have simultaneously underestimated and overestimated each other, and the results are brilliantly executed.

We also get to uncover the full extent of Mystique’s mysterious plan, including her intentions with the Protozoa device, the true reason Destiny was with Fury at S.H.I.E.L.D., and just how far Mystique is willing to go to achieve her goals.

The Writing

Declan Shalvey created a clever comic run with serious espionage vibes all throughout the read. Seeing Fury and Mystique go toe to toe was very entertaining after so much build up with Fury searching around the world for her.

What I really appreciated about Mystique was that it showed that she’s so much more than just a shapeshifting mutant. She’s motivated, calculated, and will do whatever she needs to do in the name of love.

The Art

Declan Shalvey, Matt Hollingsworth, and Clayton Cowles did a fantastic job making this comic feel so grounded while giving it that larger than life feel. Throughout the series, we got some really great cameos, and some excellent action sequences that had excellent depth to it.

With Shalvey’s art matched with Hollingsworth’s colors, they really brought the storyline to life and really matched the tones extremely well.

In Mystique #5, we finally got to see Fury and Mystique go head to head and the action in those panels were absolutely perfect. You could feel the energy from both characters as they try to best the other. When Fury is proving he’s nothing more than a man, but a man who’s willing to do what needs to be done, you can feel that depth coming out of the panels.

Overall Grade – 9/10

Be sure to let me know in the comments what you thought of Mystique #5!

This article was written by me, Megan from the Vigilante Vibes podcast! If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of Mystique #5, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!