Archangel 8 #5 Review

by Nick Devonald on September 23, 2020

Writer: Michael Moreci
Artist: C.P. Smith
Colours: Snakebite Cortez
Letters: Sal Cipriano

Here we are, at the concluding issue of Archangel 8, the hardboiled love child of Hellblazer and The Punisher. Following last issues ending we finally have 8 and Michael face to face, for their final confrontation. It’s a powerful issue, looking at war and the futility of it. We learn a little more about Michael, what made him turn his back on Gabriel and God, why he’s taken the road he’s taken. It opens a lot of questions up, and despite concluding this story it leaves it ripe for more stories to further the mythology that Michael Moreci has created here and explore it in even greater depth. Don’t be mistaken though, it’s a complete story which is being told here, it just feels like it’s more of an introduction to the world than a one-off mini-series. Here’s hoping there’ll be more to come.

By now readers will have a pretty good idea what to expect from this series, and in that regard it doesn’t disappoint. Each issue has explored the mythology of Angel hitmen in greater depth, and during the confrontation between Raziel and Michael we learn even more. There is plenty of graphic, over the top action scenes. But beyond that there is a message being told here, about the futility of war, about how violence begets violence, and it ends up being quite a powerful message the reader is left with.

One of the real highlights of the series has been C.P. Smith’s art, and he does some of his best work of the series in this issue. He gets an opportunity to dive deeper into the mythology of Angels than at any other part of the series and he makes the most of it with this issue. But it’s some of the quieter moments of the issue which really shine, the scenes between Raziel and Michael have some fantastic art in them. Really complementing Smith’s art is the colours from Snakebite Cortez. Again, he’s produced some of the best work in the series with this issue. The fiery backdrop which most of the issue is set against positively glows, the reader can practically feel the heat coming off it.

An excellent conclusion to an excellent series, readers will be left hoping this is only the first foray into this incredible world of Angels and hitmen, and that there’ll be more left to come. This issue has the over the top violent, hardboiled story which readers have come to expect. The art from C.P. Smith and Snakebite Cortez continues to make this one of the most unique, stylised comics on the market.

Our Score:

9/10

A Look Inside