The Inhumans #5
Published and © by Marvel, June 1976
Title: “Voices From Galaxy’s End”
Synopsis: Most of Attilan – including Black Bolt – is enslaved by Maximus. Can a small band of fugitive Inhumans save the day?
Writer: Doug Moench
Penciler: Gil Kane
Inker: Vince Colletta
Review: The pacing on earlier issues might have been a little herky jerky, but Doug Moench hits his stride here. Tightly plotted, action packed, character driven – this is a fine example of Bronze Age storytelling. On the art side of things, Gil Kane replaces George Pérez. His storytelling is nowhere near as innovative as Pérez’s, but it’s clean and effective, and his figure drawing is more dynamic. Unfortunately, Kane’s pencils don’t hold up nearly as well to Vince Colletta’s inking, which has a tendency to make everything look like it’s carved from wood. Still, an above-average book for its time.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: “Gil Kane demonstrated that he’s no one’s replacement.” – Richard Ashford, Comics Unlimited #44, June 1977 … “3 out of 4 stars.” – Marvel Art Review, 1976
Cool factor: Gil Kane art. Kane was a Silver Age great who didn’t lose a step in the Bronze Age (or beyond!)
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 10p British variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “NOOOOO …” – Black Bolt (as you can imagine, that didn’t end well)
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this review was published in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1653, May 2009.
