Lovey, Athos, and Porthos stumble upon the horrific sight of their beloved owner, Doc, shooting the Captain of their crashed ship. Doc’s actions make the pets question their previous loving relationship with her as more of her plans are revealed. With the fate of humanity resting on Athos, Porthos, and Lovey’s shoulders, they need to decide what the future will be for it. Man’s Best #5 by Pornsak Pichetshote and Jesse Lonergan demonstrates the lengths that pets will unconditionally love their owner before they realize that it may not always go both ways. 

Ending the series on a bittersweet note, Pichetshote provides plenty of solid emotional moments in the issue as the relationship between Doc and the animals becomes fully strained. The pets see a different side to their owner compared to the more loving image they previously knew. The hard-hitting nature of these reveals serves as a testament to Pichetshote’s talented writing and inventing characters. The pets are forced to make a much more mature decision considering the literal and emotional stakes based on what they experienced as a team.   

With the animals serving as lenses through which to view humanity, Pichetshote questions whether humans should continue living based on Doc’s actions to save humans. Pets have been continuously proven to be the best parts of humanity, whereas the latter continue to fail and can never be picked up. Along with Athos being picked to decide on the fate of humanity in the alien world, Pichetshote ponders our human nature and whether we are indeed the best ones to determine our fate. Porthos’s selfless action helps bring Doc back to earth but does not truly repair their relationship. The best qualities of humans cannot be found among ourselves but in our pets, where they can overcome their differences and find common ground to survive. Our future survival depends on not killing one another but finding a way to share and co-exist. Granted that it is more complicated, it still does not take away from the themes and ideas that Pichetshote has been exploring.

Lonergan’s art showcases his sci-fi chops as he further makes the world of Man’s Best #5 even more inhuman, bizarre, and trippy. Yet the human and emotional beats still hit incredibly hard, thanks to his talented work. There were some moments I teared up when Lonergan and Pichetshote have proven to be a fruitful and robust partnership. With Jeff Powell’s lettering, they have made the series a delight to read. 

Pichetshote and Lonergan deliver an emotionally packed finale in Man’s Best #5. Even though they faced many difficult and dangerous trials and tribulations, Athos, Porthos, and Lovey proved their toughness and survival by working together. With humanity entering a bleaker period day by day, all it takes is to look at your pet for guidance on how to proceed. Pets reflect the best and worst qualities where the answers lie with them. And you don’t even need to travel to space to discover it.

Story: Pornsak Pichetshote Art/Colors: Jesse Lonergan Letterer: Jeff Powell
Story: 9.3 Art: 9.3 Overall: 9.3 Recommendation: Read

BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Kindle