Orphans of the Impact Winter #5
Creative Team
Creative Team
writer: LEE A. CARLISLE
artist: ROSS CARLISLE
colorist: MARINA GONCALVES
letterer: MARCO VENTURA
publisher: SELF PUBLISHED
Orphans of the Impact Winter #5 closes the first arc of this epic and emotional apocalyptic comic series with a gasp before hitting readers with a “to be continued.”
Chuck and Addie are a boy and a dog whose bond has kept them going after meteors ripped into the earth decimating much of the population. After surviving for as long as they can, they find a group of kids headed to safer land but find trouble along the way.
Written by Lee A. Carlisle, the script is expertly designed at pulling the heartstrings of readers. Though much of the emotional moments between Chuck and Addie happen earlier in the series, Issue #5 leverages the connection between the two characters before throwing a wrench in their survival plans.
Illustrated by Ross Carlisle with colors by Marina Goncalves, there are two distinct styles throughout this series. One has a Calvin and Hobbs vibe and the other is a dreary dark style that reflects what is actually happening in Chuck’s world. These two visual differences have reflected Chuck’s psyche in processing the dying world and there is deeper explanation in this issue as Chuck explains his shift in reality to his friend Madeleine.
New readers would greatly benefit from checking out the entire series as each issue has been an emotional rollercoaster. The juxtaposition of innocent kids trying their hardest to continue living in a cruel world feels painfully relevant and makes rooting for all of the characters incredibly easy.
The script is neither completely unforgiving nor leans too heavily on the “Calvin and Hobbes” style, but instead acts as a poignant discussion on how trauma can be processed or unprocessed and the way in which it can impact a developing mind.
There are still a lot of questions about the world of OOTIW but one thing is for certain, I can’t wait to see how Chuck and Addie progress once issue #6 is released.
Orphans of the Impact Winter is a grand and emotional series that leverages unique writing and visual storytelling to take readers on a journey unlike any other.
