This issue is worth picking up to see the exchange between Joe and the skeleton in charge of letting souls, and Joe, cross the river in Purgatory. By and large, this issue is just as good as the last four. Yet, there is obviously a big Templesmith-shaped hole in the work. I applaud J. Michael for going with a different artist with a different style, but it gives the work a whole new tone. This isn't a bad thing per se, but it will take a little getting used to if you have been following the series thus far. Read Full Review

Don’t get me wrong, Smith is a wonderful artist. His work here is first rate, and he brings it a real sense of layering, using pencils, paints and even computer graphics. Smith keeps the surreal nature of Ten Grand, as well as the fine art sensibility. Problem is, Smith is nowhere near as inventive as Templesmith. As solid as the work is, the symmetry of Straczynski and Templesmith is gone, and it hurts the overall impact of the book. I’m sure in a few issues all will seem well, but this first example of the new art direction is hard to swallow. Read Full Review

Changing artists mid-arc is never optimal, especially in a singular story like “Ten Grand.” Ben Templesmith will certainly be missed. His ethereal, intricate line-based depictions of the spirits and powers of “Ten Grand” were a defining hallmark, and Smith's negative image approach fails to match that uniqueness. Still, Smith proves two be a worthwhile addition to the book, and his collaboration with Straczynski shows a lot of promise. “Ten Grand” remains a strong read, and is more than worth a look by fans 90′s Vertigo-style stories. Read Full Review

Still, I have to give Ten Grand #5 high marks for rolling with the punches and doing an admirable job in pressing its advantage. As this is a transitional story, I'll be withholding the majority of my judgement while Smith finds his footing in what I think is a deftly-penned story by Straczynski. In short, I'll be spending more time with Ten Grand, and will hope – for now – that this gamble after an unfortunately-dealt hand pays out. Read Full Review

Templesmith is definitely going to be missed. But as long as Straczynski continues to flesh out amazingly written installments that keep his readers on their toes, and C.P. Smith continues to immerse himself in Straczynskis universe in order to effectively bring his story to life with absolute clarity, then Ten Grand will remain one of the better series of 2013. Read Full Review

This sort of too clever writing always rubs me the wrong way, however the ending is pretty good and once again the journey of our hero ends at an exciting point. Overall, the plot looks good right now. So I dont have any serious complaints. But the issues are winding down and so far this series has shied away from being deserving of cult status by a hair's breadth. Read Full Review

I never noticed it before, but this book is very reminiscent of Hellblazer, and thats definitely not a bad thing. It has a different tone, but a very similar protagonist and very similar ideas, but Joe Fitzgerald is more likeable, in many ways, than John Constantine. This is to praise the writing and characterizations that remain strong in the face of this artistic shift. It isnt that the art is bad, Id actually love to see C.P. Smith on a story that was originally intended for his particular skillset, but I have to say that this feels like a stand-in issue from a visual perspective. Its still worth checking out, but be aware of what youre getting into. Read Full Review

There's a really good recap of the story to date on the inside front cover of this book and you can jump right into the action on this issue. That may be better than starting with #1 if you've not tried it out before as you won't get used to Templesmith and then have the change-up with this issue. Start here and let the story speak for itself. Read Full Review

"Ten Grand" #5 definitely weathered the shift in artist, and to that I give the comic great props. Hopefully now that it's behind us, the book will pick up the pace with Joe firmly in the afterlife. If story and art can get back into sync again, it'll be the "Ten Grand" that I've come to love. Read Full Review

Templesmiths departure certainly hurts the title. Hopefully Smith can manage to establish his own personality and direction on the series and find his footing. Straczynskis story continues forward in an interesting direction with Joe fighting to hold on to any sense of himself the further he ventures into this new world. Audiences will have to hope that both writer and artist come together a bit more on future issues. Read Full Review