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Jennika finds herself outnumbered and alone in the lair of Lao Ban. Only Jennika isn’t really alone. When the beast within takes over, apex predators will fight for the soul of their community. It’s a battle of principles that only the strongest can survive. The Nightwatcher closes one door and opens another in issue #5!
- Written by Juni Ba
- Art by Fero Peniche
- Colors by Luis Antonio Delgado
- Letters and Design by Nathan Widick
- Editor Dave Wielgosz
Nightwatcher vs Lao Ban
The issue opens with a brief flashback to who Lao Ban is and what made him the monster he is now. We immediately snap to the present and Jennika is face to face with the monsterous bear mutant himself! What proceeds is a fantastic battle between two sides of the same coin. A brutal fight between personalities and heavy hitters is spliced with beautiful dialogue.
In the end, something happens that’s been waiting in the background for 4 issues. What that ultimately means for mutant town, NYC, and Jennika remains to be seen. It’s a bittersweet ending to this chapter of Nightwatcher.
Juni Ba Goes Next Level in Nightwatcher #5
Juni Ba has been on his “A” game through out this series thus far and issue #5 is no exception. The point of view dialogue from Lao Ban and Jennika as they engage in a fist fight for the soul of Mutant Town is beautiful written. Lao Ban has be a mystery, a background force thus far. Now, we get him in full view and I love it.
What do we know about Lao Ban so far?
Lao Ban’s character has been built up in a way like most great “big bads”. You never really get to see him, word of mouth is terrifying, and their presence is always felt even thought they’re no there. Sometimes that can lead to disappointment upon reveal, but not here. Loa Ban is a big, hulking bear of the Himalayas with cybernetic implants. If that’s not enough, his demeanor is intimidating, even to the reader. He towers over everyone physically and metaphorically. He believes strongly in his purpose, he’s not afraid to get his hand dirty, and he rules with an iron fist, literally. It’s like if Tony Soprano and Thanos were merged into one.
Jennika Overcomes Physical and Emotional Pain
As the fight escalates, and Jennika looks beaten, she reveals that she has been holding back the beast within the armor all along. What we get is an amazing transformation that gives Lao Ban a worthy physical match in strength and willpower.
While this fight is a primary plot for the story, there’s also the relationship between Jennika and her girlfriend Sheena. It’s clear that Jennika is having a hard time balancing her two lives. There is a wonderful conversation between the two that leads into the classic trope. Like most superheroes, it comes down to the relationship between power and responsibilities.
The Art of Nightwatcher Continues to Evolve
It feels like Fero Peniche gets better and better with each issue. The design of Lao Ban matches the intensity of the character written by Juni Ba. I love every aspect of him, right down to his metal claws and classic suspenders. The fight between these two is beautifully illustrated with big action panels and emotional close ups. When we get a design of the armor taking over Jennika, it becomes titan vs titan. I love the intricacies of the transformation itself as well as the terrifying “final form”.
The colors by Delgado put a lot more detail into the new Nightwatcher design. I love the use of red! Also, he adds depth to the fight between Lao Ban and Jennika, giving us greater sense of immersion. Letter work from Nathan Widick can’t be overlooked either. With a fight of this magnitude, it’s important to emphasis the powerful blows and intense dialogue. Widick nails that feeling throughout.
Overall Grade: 10/10
Big panels, big swings, big close-ups, and big emotions drive this issue to new heights. Juni Ba, Fero Peniche, and the rest of the creative team are hitting their stride. I wasn’t sure where this series was headed at first, but issue #5 put a big smile on my face and I’m excited for what’s next!
