Escape #5: “These are the good days”

War has no victors in chapter 5 of Escape by Rick Remender & Daniel Acuña from Image Comics.

PREVIOUSLY

As the sole survivor, Milton is on borrowed time. After being hunted through the city, he found safety in the home of Mr. Müller. He risked his life by keeping Milton in his home. Even after this gesture, Milton saw Mr. Müller as the enemy. As part of the problem. Milton Shaw believed he alone was the sole owner of the moral high ground in real estate. Just because Mr. Müller did not wear the uniform, that meant that he was Milton’s ally. For some reason, Milton believed everyone in the country approved of their government’s actions. Unfortunately, Milton was wrong.

*SPOILERS FOR ISSUE 5*

FROM SOLICITATION

“The wreckage is still smoldering. As enemy soldiers tighten their grip on a devastated village, Milton must risk everything to stop a weapon that could change the course of the war. But inside these broken walls, not everyone is ready to fight again.” – from Image Comics

MASKS OFF

Finally, Rick Remender and Daniel Acuña pulled back the curtain. There are two separate moments where Remender peeled back the layers of war. First, we get the perspective from the soldiers of the Bat Army. Typically, the lower you are on the totem pole, the smaller your perspective is. Or the less information you have. We commonly know them as foot soldiers or grunts. Their perspective on what their country looks like to them is very crude and simple. Of course, things look bad. The people are hungry, and everything is destroyed. There’s no home to go back to. However, this is when Rick Remender peels back the layers on what an armed conflict looks like.

ALTERNATE PERSPECTIVE

The contrast in the points of view is staggered against each other. The Colonel offers the foot soldiers a new way to look at things. While yes, things are dire for virtually everyone. These soldiers still bask in power and authority. The Colonel encourages his subordinates to realize their positions. Even though their homes are destroyed, and they might be going hungry, just like the civilians. They are supposed to feel above the civilians. Because of the mere fact that they are wearing the uniform. Rick Remender reminds us how people in power, in positions of authority and responsibility, have a way with rhetoric. And use it to pin everyone else against each other.

THE RESISTANCE

Secondly, and I will say even more impactful, is the fact that Mr. Müller and his team are also victims of their own government. While Milton’s wife raised her voice and spread awareness about the same war in a free country. Mr. Müller’s wife did not get the same liberty. Currently, nobody knows Mr. Müller’s wife’s current whereabouts. Unfortunately, in this country, there is no such thing as the First Amendment or freedom of expression. And speaking against the actions of your own government can be and will be fatal.

PERCEIVED PARALLELS

Milton Shaw believed that everyone was a complicit and willing participant. Or that they approved of the actions of the Bat Army. Thus, his sense of moral high ground over every single person he encounters in this land. Milton Shaw and Mr. Müller had way more in common than he originally believed.

HOW ABOUT THE ART?

Not only do you go from panel to panel, afraid that Shaw might be found by the bats and eventually terminated. But the mere presence of the Colonel throughout the entire issue is something to behold. In fact, is very reminiscent of Christopher Waltz’s performance as Colonel Hans Landa in “Inglourious Basterds” (Universal Pictures). Daniel Acuña excelled in depicting the thrill and the dread tones in this installment.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

FINAL THOUGHTS

The only negative thing I can say about Escape #5 is that the series is going to take a hiatus in the month of January. And we’ll have to wait a whole month before we read the conclusion of this series. However, I am confident when I say that the wait will be worth it. What started as a gritty, action-packed World War II metaphor. It has now become a deconstruction of the concept of war itself. Remender and Acuña are teaching us that there are no winners in war or armed conflict, in battle. Especially in the likes and scale, such as this one. Hopefully, one day, we’ll learn the lessons being taught to Milton Shaw.

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