When she thinks she’s out, they keep pulling her back! The final issue of Barbarella’s Gambit paid off, eliminating the threat of everyone in the galaxy being converted into sheep that had been rushed through the mind through a neural type. But she still can’t relax. Because the director is eager to make the final film with Barbarella, who makes a huge profit across the galaxy, forcing her to appear in the film and sacrifice everything (including her life) to make it a classic.
Barbarella #5, Blake Northcott’s drawings in Eric Blake’s art and Werner Sanchez’s colours are the miniseries finale. It’s more pulpy than the previous issue, abandoning many sci-fi jargon and situations, supporting good old-fashioned action. While Barbarella fights the manager in the sky of Alpha Prime, the agent ju-search fights to escape her imprisonment in the distant world of Merafausion. It makes the book feel like a James Bond story, reminding us that Barbarella is not only peace and love, but she is the perfect agent and an independent contractor of Elsagov, who is being called to handle the toughest cases.
Blake Northcott infuses the book with a 60s spy vibe, while at the same time feeling retro and futuristic. It’s like the book was written in the 1960s by someone who imagined how groovy the future and the universe was, filling the story with exotic places and loving jazzy philosophy. She does an incredible job of putting her in a wide variety of new dilemmas and tough situations, while maintaining everything unique about Barbarella and her universe.
Along the way in this issue there is a thrilling battle with the manager, with the two fighting the energy staff on a hover platform above the surface of Alpha Prime. This is a very cinematic sequence enhanced by the artwork.
dynamite
Eric Blake’s art is not as streamlined as the works of previous artist Anna Morozova, but it is still beautiful and detailed, and his art, the perspective and attitude of the characters reminded me of Neil Adams’ art. Thankfully, Blake avoids the stiffness that sometimes bothers Adams’ rendering.
I love the relationship between Barbarella and the female android Zephilaus (which Barbarella simply calls “Z”), and runs throughout the miniseries and continues here. Zephyraus is just as terrifying as Barbarella, and not only serves as Barbarella’s love interest, she is also invaluable in the battle. I hope Z is brought into a future miniseries.
I also enjoyed the scene with Jury Quire, a character I look forward to having her own series. With a distinctive look and style, Eljugoff Agent (she reminds me of the punk version of Emma Peel of the Avengers TV show in the 60s), and her and fellow agents fight to fight Barbarella in a battle with the director from the detention center of the planet Melon Fusion, which is all metal and cybernetics. Barbarella may be a good fighter, but the judges are great.
I don’t know what Dynamite plans for Barbarella’s future, but this Barbarella miniseries was explosive, so I hope they will keep Northcott as the writers of their next project!
“Barbarella” #5 is a high-flying finale with retro spy flares
Barbarella #5
There are several thrilling action scenes in the book, and Barbarella is in full James Bond mode here. That’s a fun but sudden conclusion for the miniseries.
Both Barbarella and Ju-search remain very interesting and entertaining characters.
Eric Blake’s artwork is visually dynamic and reminiscent of Neil Adams’ work.
Blake Northcott’s writing at the same time gives the book a retro, futuristic jazz-like vibe.
The solution suddenly felt. Adding another issue to the miniseries would have given more pages to come to conclusions (no pun intended).
