This comic book review is of Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commando’s  #5, where we have the howling commando’s first issue after the lost of Junior Juniper, something I seen as a major turning point for the series and comic books in general. But how does that all play into the ongoing story of our commandos?  and can this volume live up to the high expectation’s that was set by the last issue?

Artwork

last time I praised Jack Kirby on his attention to detail, in particularly for the non combat panels, while the detail is great in this issue, it is not the aspect that stood out to me the most.  This time, it is surpassed by  how well Jack captured the human expression and emotion in the cast of characters. the hole cast seems to have a level of emotion, and depth being put into them right from the first pencil mark, and that is what I feel makes this issues art great beyond anything else.

Originality & Continuity

The Nazi’s will do anything to stop the commando’s. So they set out to humiliate their leader, Nick Furry.  at its heart this seems to be almost a predictable story, but one filled with more than its fair share of twists.

It also works in a new element to Nick Fury, one that seems to have taken the death of Junior Juniper quite to heart. While I am sure we will see this seed grow with time, and  help define the character, it is now we get to see the beginnings of that  seed sprouting.

Characters & Development

we also see the love life between Nick Fury and Pamela Hawley developing,  as she is shown to be the only person whom can control Nick on any level, and bring his savage exterior to something almost resembling manors.

where this issue falls short is with the demotion and re-promotion of Sgt. Fury.  it is comical and suiting of a comic book, and I expected nothing less from the moment I seen his strips stripped from him,  but it served very little purpose, and had no long-lasting repercussions , something that is a shame on both counts.

Story

So in the end, while this story did not live up to the almost five-star standards the last issue set,  it does have its strength’s and is well worth the time to read it.  and while it does not meet up to all that I would have expected and hoped for, it does plant some interesting seeds that we can see how they grow in stories to come.