Doctor Strange is presented with a dread bargain to gain a chance to save the world. The Avengers ride into a battle they cannot win. The dead battle the undead across the globe. Will it be enough? Will the world be saved, and how will it be changed if it is? The teaser text for Blood Hunt #5 promised a dramatic shift for the future of the Marvel Universe and it delivers!

When it comes to events, Blood Hunt has delivered with every issue. The main series has been focused, each issue delivered surprises, and the art has been fantastic. Blood Hunt #5 is no exception to any of that. The event series ends on a high note wrapping up to most satisfying Marvel event in quite some time.

Written by Jed MacKay, Blood Hunt #5 has the Avengers fighting the possessed Blade and his Blood Coven while Doctor Strange wrestles with making a deal with the devil that is Doctor Doom. Both storylines deliver a titanic experience with memorable moments and shocking surprises.

When it comes to the Avengers’ battle, the fight is rough and feels like a losing proposition. The Blood Coven feel like they can actually stand up to the Avengers and the fight shows that off with brutal results and moments where readers aren’t sure which way things are going. MacKay also delivers rousing moments that root into the inspiration that the Avengers are supposed to be. It’s a battle that feels like a monumental task and one the Avengers can’t win on their own.

Across the world, Strange is struggling himself, he has to decide how much to trust Doctor Doom who has said he needs to be made the Sorcerer Supreme to cast his spell and end the vampire threat. This actually delivers some quandaries as to how much Doom can be trusted and how far everyone needs to go. With the Avengers team, a debate rages as well as to what should be done and if their actions will hurt innocent individuals who will be hurt.

Of course the Avengers win… but at what cost? The comic ends with not one, but two status quo changing aspects, both having been spoiled by Marvel and teased. Doctor Doom at the end is now the Sorcerer Supreme and wants to further use his new powers to help fix the world. The remaining vampires themselves are changed too, no longer needing to be creatures of the night. Both are interesting and a nice ending and change from the never ending teases we’d get in comic events of the past.

The art by Pepe Larraz continues to be amazing. With color by Marte Gracia and Fer Sifuentes-Sujo and lettering by Cory Petit, the action is fierce. The visuals feel like a big budget film with multiple memorable moments and panels. There’s a lot of big, over the top action, but Larraz and the team are also able to focus in on some emotional moments that give the event some heart as well. The story is focused but grand as well and the art matches that.

Blood Hunt #5 is a fantastic finale to an event that has stood out. It has kept things interesting and surprising with every issue, keeping readers on their toes. The fallout from it should be intriguing and hopefully going forward, we get more events like this.

Story: Jed MacKay Art: Pepe Larraz
Color: Marte Gracia, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle