Gooder Arrives And Holland Trembles In Everything #5
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
Shirley and Mister Bear have a heart-to-heart while EB Friendly’s health continues to deteriorate. His house has become infested with millions of ants and he must relocate himself and his gravely ill children. Our mustachioed friend discovers that he can disrupt Everything’s operations just by playing German classical music in the store before being captured by Everything staff. Lori has taken a job at Everything and seeks to become good friends with Shirley, who is in trouble with Everything higher-ups for her erratic behavior of late. Plus, Gooder finally arrives.
Everything #5 brings the first volume of this comic series to its dramatic and surreal climax. Shirley questions everything she’s ever done for Everything, Lori comes to grips with her new lease on life, and Moustache (I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to find his name) gets closer to the heart of Everything.
It’s an engaging issue, even if it deliberately assuages any kind of conclusion or closure. That said, we have been promised a second volume and I’m definitely eager to read that.
The strange new friendship between Lori and Shirley straddles the line between relatable and, of course, bonkers crazy. Each has a hidden friend who threatens to disrupt their new friendship.
Moustache disrupting the Everything signal with German classical music pays a solid homage to classic sci-fi tales. His part of the story takes an interesting and bloody turn in this issue that is sure to keep you locked in.
Gooder doesn’t have as much a part of the comic as I’d hoped. He had a lot of build-up and there is definitely something innately creepy about him and his demeanor. However, we don’t get to see him behave like a true supervillain in this issue.
I.N.J. Culbard once again gives the book the deceptively “plain” art style needed that makes the surrealism of the Everything store all the more unnerving. This is especially true of Friendly and his children in this comic; their degradation and decay is downright tragic. The color palette once again pops well in this comic.
Everything #5 is a strange, tragic, and grabbing finale to the first volume of this story. We get to watch each of our lead characters come to crossroads that will determine the future of Holland, Michigan. Shirley, Lori, Moustache, and Friendly are each solid characters with interesting motivations and Everything as a whole definitely earns a recommendation. Check it out.
Everything #5 comes to us from writer Christopher Cantwell, artist and cover artist I.N.J. Culbard, and letterer Steve Wands.
Final Score: 8.5/10
