STORM #5 – The Great Trial by Combat

Creative Team – Murewa Ayodele(writer). Lucas Werneck(artist). Alex Guimarães(color artist). VC’s Travis Lanham(letterer). Mateus Manhanini(cover artist).

Published by Marvel Entertainment

Be sure to catch up with Storm #4 here!

The Story

After Storm was diagnosed with radiation poisoning, she was cured by Doctor Voodoo, but it came at a price. She wasn’t allowed to use her powers for seven days. While this seems simple enough, Storm was put into a position in Latveria to where she felt she had no choice but to use her powers to save the life of an innocent person from the hands of Doctor Doom.

Instantly, she was killed for breaking the rule by a spirit named Eégún. But instead of parrishing, she awoke in the spirit world where Eternity, the living embodiment of universe recreated her into the Eternal Storm.

Murewa Ayodele immediately shows how strong Storm now is by having her transform the same spirit that killed her into a bit size version and consuming Eégún whole. After that, Storm is on her way to pick up where she left off with Doctor Doom.

Battles of the spirits

Then we’re taken to the Dimensions of Manifestations, about three billion years ago, in the middle of a dispute between Eternity and Oblivion. The dispute is about Eternity housing Oblivion’s sister, Death, with his twin, Infinity. The Living Tribunal, who plays the judge in this dispute, says it’s to be decided by a trial by combat.

It’s revealed this isn’t the first time Eternity and Oblivion have had a trial by combat, but this will be the 13th time. Oblivion wears the skulls of the avatars that have fought for Eternity around his waist as a belt, which tells you how many times he’s won these trials by combat.

Back to Eternal Storm, she has plans to kill Doom but her host, Storm, would never allow an unarmed man to be murdered. Eternal Storm says Doom has escaped a certain death, while he assures her that she’s the one who’s escaped death.

We’re back to the spirit world about 3 billion years from where we started, and Oblivion and Eternity are in the midst of another brawl. But this time, it’s about so much more than who can house Oblivion’s sister. Eternity needs a champion to fight in his honor, but who could it be?

The Writing

Murewa Ayodele does a fantastic job at making each installment of Storm impactful, and that’s what was done here. Storm #5 shows that now that she’s Eternal Storm, so much more is expected of her in terms of conflicts she will find herself involved with.

With consuming Eégún, she’s already shown a little of how powerful she is. And now it seems she will probably be Eternity’s champion again Oblivion, which I personally cannot wait to see.

The Art

With a story with so much depth, you have to have artists that can match that energy, and I’d say Lucas Werneck, Alex Guimarães, and Travis Lanham have done just that. Throughout Storm #5, the artists created something that feels so much larger than life, and really makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the conflicts of the spirit world.

I can’t not mention how incredible Eternal Storm looks. Storm has always been a goddess in the fan’s eyes, but now she feels and looks like so much more than that. With her new look, her new suit, and being surrounded by Storm-esque lightning, it’s hard to take your eyes off the pages with her on them.

Overall Grade – 8.9/10

Let me know in the comments what you thought of Storm #5!

This review was written by 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 Storm #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!