Samurai Jack #5
Written by Jim Zub
Art by Andy Suriano
Colors by Josh Burcham
Letters by Shawn Lee
Cover by Genndy Tartakovsky
IDW Publishing
Release Date: February 26, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

Our favorite time-traveling Samurai is back in Samurai Jack #5 with the epic conclusion of the story arc, Threads of Time.

Samurai Jack was a groundbreaking cartoon on the Cartoon Network and continues its story in the comic book pages. The cartoon style artwork transitions well to the medium, so the look and feel of the TV show is well maintained. But as to the story”¦..?

[Spoiler Alert”¦]

Our hero fails miserably. Every step on his journey leading up to this confrontation ends in a single frame. Picture the Firelord Ozai (from The Last Airbender) kicking Ang around until reaches the Avatar state, but ending the story there.

The Phoenix king and a fleeing hero does not an epic battle make.

Samurai Jack completes the collection of the Threads of Time, only to be killed an instant later. The threads of time themselves seem only capable of a single act of magic as Jack has to choose returning to his time to die or snapping back to the moment before the fatal strike connected and continuing his struggle with the Evil Aku.

You can assume what decision Jack makes, but as someone who was enjoying the lead up to this battle, you can understand my general disappointment.