Those who favor DC Comics or another publisher over Marvel should give Secret Wars and other works by Hickman a try. No matter how deep their allegiance, they won't be able to deny the brilliance and excitement of these stories. Read Full Review

Too many events don't live up to their "special" billing. So far, this one is setting the standard the other Events only aspired to. Read Full Review

Hickman takes a pit stop in his narrative to catch fans up on some huge details to the very foundation of the story while pointing readers into a brand new direction to wrap up the series. His creativity, inventiveness, and ingenuity shine throughout the issue and merely show comic fans that Jonathan Hickman is on an entirely different level than anyone else in the game right now. Grab this trade and add it to your collection. This is a story you can pull out to read time and again without being disappointed. Well, what are you waiting for? Start reading! Read Full Review

Hickman and Ribic have given us something that we probably don't deserve. Here, in the very heart of what is arguably the biggest crossover event in Marvel Comics history, they have given us a character study. In an issue that serves to advance the plot and elaborate the cosmic events at the heart of this big, world breaking, storyline, Hickman and Ribic take us to the heart of the matter and tell a story of pain and grief, of truth and lies. Just when I was expecting sound and fury they give us quiet conversation. Just when I was expecting gods and superheroes, they give us real people cowering before the majesty of faith and of doubt. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #5 was another brilliant installment in this truly epic big event. Marvel has an absolute classic on their hands with Secret Wars. At the rate Hickman is going, when this big event is concluded, Secret Wars is going to be viewed as Marvel's grandest big event. Secret Wars #5 offers beautiful dialogue, engaging character work, intricate plotting and stunning artwork. This issue is worth every single penny of its $4.00. And then some. Read Full Review

Secret Wars continues to be great, even when our heroes aren't battling with each other. The exposition is handled so well to not be drawn out and make sure that any background info is directly functional to how we see the action. Just a great book. Period. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #5 is yet another amazing installment of one of the modern era's most engaging comic book stories. Despite having tie-ins and crossover titles in the range of fifty, this series does a magnificent job of holding its own and staying on target. With this issue, however, Hickman, Ribic, Svorcina and Cowles are over halfway done. That notion makes me very sad, as this series has been remarkable, but it also makes me dubious, as Hickman has not even remotely hinted at how this saga will finish out. This has been a grand adventure from the start and Secret Wars #5 is more of the same. Thank Doom. Read Full Review

If there's a flaw to the issue it's the feeling that we're missing some of the story, and what has happened elsewhere is summarized here. Secret Wars is a large scale story, and I think it needs more cohesion to work in the best way possible. I think when the event is over, Secret Wars and its eight issues will be able to be read alone, but still have this feeling that it would be richer with some of the other tie-in series. Read Full Review

Secret Wars has been absolutely spectacular and the story being told maybe one of the best in Marvel History, certainly one of the most entertaining. Each issue leaves me speechless and shocked and waiting for more. Secret Wars unbelievable keeps the tidal wave crashing down much like the four before. I'm personally amazed at the stride this event is hitting. I'm scared to see if it crashes and burns because it is certainly reaching a point I'm not sure they can go beyond. Read Full Review

Usually, event books don't rank very high when discussing definitive visions of certain characters. But if Hickman and company keep handling Victor Von Doom as well as he was in this issue, Secret Wars might wind up among the definitive stories about everyone's favorite Latverian dictator. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #5 is the calm before the storm, the floodlights humming to life before the big game. The Future Foundation studies everything, and it doesn't add up. Doom allows fear into his heart and it is degrading his reality. Strange is gone and with him the only chance at a peaceful outcome. The war is coming and the secret shall be revealed. Doom Will Fall. Read Full Review

With a lot of exposition here, some of which was likely covered in some of the lead-up material spread across other books prior to the event, this issue of Secret Wars is like a godsend for people like me that aren't heavily involved in all of Marvel's books. The detail and expansion on what's going on is very interesting to have revealed and it adds some much needed context for me with what's going on, as well as tying me back to the original event all those years ago. The end result is a book that for me reads very, very well and kept me eager to turn the page to find out more, especially as it got into the Molecule Man and what he represents. It does look like the book is getting ready to kick it into action mode for the next couple of issues though going by the end panels and that will definitely be welcome as it needs to start pulling things together for the reveal of what will be born from all of this. Read Full Review

Secret Wars continues to impress. With 3 issues left, there is still a lot to get through. However, based on the strength of the issues so far, I have faith the best is yet to come. Praise God Doom! Read Full Review

The end of the issue is what gets you most excited knowing now exactly where everyone was scattered. Who knows if we'll get to all of them within Secret Wars, but if you recognize where each are placed then you know which tie-in to look out for to find out what they do next. Read Full Review

That doesn't mean Secret Wars #5 is a throwaway issue. The conflict continues to become more and more defined. With Valeria making it a priority to find Strange's murderer and a group of villains and heroes from the old world ready to take down Doom, things are being set into motion for a brutal and exciting climax. Read Full Review

Clocking in at twenty briskly-paced pages, writer Jonathan Hickman takes slight intake pauses yet keeps on moving with big rewards, surprise and innovation awaiting at every turn. Read Full Review

After a short delay, Esad Ribic's art remains as grand and beautiful as ever. He portrays the guilt of Doom in his posture while making him imposing and powerful. Without Ribic this series would never have found the success it has. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #5 is a rock solid comic book with great writing and artwork that is very easy on the eyes. This is an issue that is targeted to those who are heavily invested in the Hickman Marvel U, and those of us who are certainly aren't surprised by slower chapters here and there. The next act of Secret Wars has begun, the hunt is on and I can't wait for issue #6. Read Full Review

The end of this issue teases out stories in the connecting series in the publishing line and a major move by a character whose presence has not yet been fully felt in this epic. Though it's a downbeat issue, "Secret Wars" #5 is essential for those following Hickman's maxi-saga or readers looking for a study in Doom's motivation. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #5 loses some ground with plot progression but taking the time to share the nuggets it does is more than good in my mind. Add in the steady hand of a consistent team and a destroyed universe that's barely holding on feels like it's in capable hands. Read Full Review

There's an underlying theme of knowledge seeking vs heresy, in this issue that really fleshes out the mythos and intrigue of Secret Wars. Again I am reminded other idyllic utopias showcased in the Marvel U that crumbled so quickly with a small inquiry into the truth of matters. Although at times convoluted and a bit dense narrative wise you can really tell that secret wars has been a labor of love for Hickman. I can't help but respect that, and personally it fuels my own interest as well. The house of cards is slowly beginning to crumble and I am anxiously awaiting to see how this chapter ends, and shapes the future of the new Marvel Universe we have gotten glimpses of already. Read Full Review

Secret Wars has three issues left and after the last page of #5 it seems as though that's not enough time to wrap everything up. That being said Jonathan Hickman has proven with Infinity that he's capable of providing a satisfying ending. We know what's ahead for the Marvel Universe after Secret Wars and the slow feel of this issue may be intentional so we can catch our breath before heading into the final act. I trust that Hickman's pacing is intentional and look forward to what should be an exciting and rapid ride ahead. Read Full Review

I don't know why Hickman decided to slow things down so much with Secret Wars #5. It's not a terrible issue by any means. It's perfectly fine. But there is just so much to unpack in Hickman's years of comics work that this quick recap of only one small portion of it just doesn't go far enough. But maybe reminding us all of this Molecule Man stuff will be important later on. If that's the case, so be it. But for this individual issue, it's nothing special. Read Full Review

Again, this is a pretty informative issue. It shows us how the world is created, and possible villain for the series. No, it doesn't have much story progression, and that's really a shame considering how long we've waiting for this issue. Read Full Review

This isn't the strongest issue of Secret Wars given the lack of plot progression and slowed momentum. Even so, many of the strengths that define this epic event are still readily apparent, and fans of Hickman's Doom will find plenty to love in this chapter. Read Full Review

A slower and more subtle chapter in an event series that is exploring guilt, payback and the impossible task of believing we can control anything. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #5 may stall the overall story a bit and be redundant for longtime Avengers and New Avengers readers, but the answers provided help shine light on the events for those less informed. Esad Ribic's art is top of the line and is one of the strongest elements. Read Full Review

Overall, it's a clunky issue with somewhat awkward transitions into a gear-grinding info-dump that nevertheless would be sorely needed for the eventual paperback collection of Secret Wars 1-8. And while certain unknown aspects are revealed, and while characters like Valeria are shuffled into place for later conflicts, there's not really that much that's new. If it were meant as a chance to catch our breath, well, we've had three months from the last issue to breathe so we're ready for more, please. The true saving grace here is the art, which very neatly captures everything needed, whether literal or metaphorical, for character and tone. Read Full Review

Secret Wars #5 may lose some of the series' momentum, but the stakes and setting have never been more exciting. After years of planning and exposition, Hickman and Ribic possess a chessboard staged for an epic endgame. The final few pages of this issue will leave a pit in your stomach, and that anticipation reveals just how much potential there is still to be found in Secret Wars. Read Full Review

The art and the writing are still excellent, but the idea to stall the story for essentially a "flashback" exposition issue falls a little flat. Hopefully, with only three issues left, there will be enough time to tie up all the loose threads in this earth shattering event. - See more at: http://fanboysinc.com/comic-review-secret-wars-5-i-for-see-something-worse/#sthash.AG3yBRla.dpuf Read Full Review

I was looking forward to see Hickman continue the up to now perfect pacing and show more of the new arrivals in Battleworld struggle to cope with the situation theyre in, but Hickman seems oddly unfocused in this issue, as if he's just killing time until the end. Very little was actually acomplished here to move the story forward, and given how were quite near the end that is a little worrying. Up until now, Secret Wars has been near perfect. I hope this slight misstep is just that, and not an indication that this series will stumble in the second half like most Marvel events. Read Full Review

"Secret Wars" turns the corner for the finale by setting things up in this issue. Valeria starts her investigation into the missing characters and seems to be on a very interesting scent. The comic book provides answers as to how Doom became God in this new world. The artwork makes the most of a rather tame issue. This is an average read that will fit nicely in a collection but doesn't give much bang for a single issue. Read Full Review

Ultimately, Secret Wars #5 is not a bad comic book, but one that feels redundant in an event where it shouldn't. Read Full Review

Doom must lie in order to prevent Battleworld falling apart; but that choice may set events in motion that even he can't control... A beautiful issue that unfortunately reverts to the miniseries' default of unending setup. Read Full Review

Hopefully the almost-painful dullness of Secret Wars #5 doesnt sink into the last batch of issues, otherwise this will have been a bit of a blunder. As a fan of Hickman and Ribics work, I have every confidence this will pick back up and that this was just made to explain things for people who didnt read Avengers and New Avengers. For a mid-point issue, this was really bland and not really indicative of the quality of the previous issues. It was something that had to happen I guess. Read Full Review

The only somewhat interesting aspect of the entire issue is the last page where some measure of forward momentum is restored. For an event that's already dragged on through the entire summer and thrown the entire Marvel continuity into disarray, devoting an entire issue to reiterating back-story because readers hadn't been that interested in its original publication is an incredibly regressive and ill-advised move. Secret Wars is supposedly winding down soon, here's hoping things shake out for the better in the next 3 issues. Read Full Review

Call it event fatigue. Call it whatever you want. I can't believe we still have three more issue of this. Hickman's the type that doesn't include details for no reason. Molecule Man's appearance is a sort of Chekhov's Gun that almost inevitably will pay off somehow. Which side will wield it has yet to be seen, but hopefully Hickman picks up the pace a bit. Convergence suffered from a similar problem of slogging through exposition and by the end, the payoff wasn't worth it. Hickman and Ribic have three more issues to avoid that same fate. Read Full Review

The vast majority of the issue is spent watching Doctor Doom experience things, have long conversations to clumsily shove in background information that would have been much more helpful before Secret Wars ever began, and order people to obey him without question. In the grand scheme of things, nothing happens. Read Full Review

It is ironic that a comic book about the end of being features the main characters of the Fantastic Four. They too are about to cease being. The one redeeming value of this comic is the beautiful art by Esad Ribic. Hes good. But everything else in this comic book is not. As a casual comic book reader, I found the comic complex and vague. As a long time Marvel Comics fan, Im disappointed and bored. Save your money. Dont buy this comic. Read Full Review

It's really a masterpiece of a story and never disappoints. For this that have followed Hickmans Avengers epic...this is our payoff.

Another slower issue, it serves as a breather and to tell us exactly how Doom became God.

A lot of review, but I still liked it.

A slower chapter but the dialogue between Doom and the others is pretty spectacular. It's finally nice how this world is created and see why Doom is still a bad ass. He's so bad and evil that he is even willing to threaten his own family in the efforts to find the missing life rafters. And the end OMG the end looks like all hell will break out soon.

Still getting the feeling while reading this series that this will be a very important event in the history of Marvel. Very special.

Expected a little more

The classic set-up issue that once in a while is needed is here, and it was an occasion to study difficult concepts like grief, guilt and responsibility. I'm really liking Valeria's strong personality which is starting to go against Doom's requests and how things are becoming clearer, from the death of the Beyonders to Strange's last effort to save his old comrades. On the other hand it was a very heavily expositive issue, so not the easiest to read through.

Some backstory is nice.

Even though I rated this issue low, I want to point out that I've loved this series. The previous issues have all been exciting for me and I eagerly await the next one.

Issue 5 did not live up to what the rest of the series has built upon thus far. It was almost like they put a pause button on. This is one of Marvel's weakest elements when it comes to their event books. They want to make 7 or 8 issues but they don't have 7 or 8 issues worth of story. When that happens we get the pause button.

The issue started off great with the funeral of Stephen Strange and ended great with the anticipation of what the newly discovered characters are up to. It's the entire middle section that I have a problem with. It starts when Doom talks to the Molecule Man. Not that they're talking to each other but they way they're talking to each other. You see this in a lot of comic dialog, as well as in some television shows, when the writer is trying to catch the audience up to speed. The characters will explain everything to each other even though they were both there. That doesn't make sense!

I'm not going to tell my wife how we met. She already knows. She was there. I would, however, tell someone new the story of how I met my wife, even with her standing by my side.

But this is done here with Doom and the Molecule Man telling each other stuff they should already know, including Doom telling the Molecule Man his own name. Why would you do that? Even when you're reminiscing with your friends you don't do that.

Even afterwards when the kids and guards are explaining the way they've been monitoring Doom and Strange, everyone says that they already know that. Then why are you talking about it? I would hate if my boss explained how something worked every time we got together. This can easily be cleared up by someone asking if everyone is familiar with this procedure and a character saying that he or she is not. THEN they can explain it.

This mig more

Thanks again, Hickman, for reminding us that real Marvel Heroes like Doctor Strange would rather hand over ultimate power to evil tyrants than take on the responsibility themselves.

There's no fire, no pulse, no drive behind this red-hot blockbuster selling series. Secret Bores continues to disappoint.

Zero plot. Boring endless dialogue. Exposition dumping. Lazy art. Stupid nonsensical shit. Say what you want about Bendis, but Dissasembled, House of M and Siege are way better than Secret Wars.