Issue: Unthinkable #5
Release Date: September 16, 2009
Writer(s): Mark Sable
Artist(s): Julian Totino Tedesco
Cover(s): Paul Azaceta and Nick Filardi
Colors: Juan Manuel Tumburús
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
In the final issue of this miniseries, Alan finally meets face to face with the person responsible for bringing all the unthinkable acts of terrorism he and his group thought up for the government. Something tells me this isn’t going to end in a nice and neat way for Alan and the Think Tank.
Wow, did this series get wrapped up fast in this issue! As we all found out in ish #4, Alan’s Navy SEAL brother Steven was the mastermind behind all the chaos and destruction going on throughout the world. An entire four issues of Steven’s storyline gets played out in quick flashbacks in between what’s happening in present day for Alan, what’s left of the Think Tank, Agent Skelly, and Pa Ripley. All the pieces are put together as the flashbacks play out, and eventually it’s Bro vs. Bro in the belly of a Soviet sub.
This was a strong miniseries from the start. Each issue leading up to the finale was an exciting, thought-provoking slice of story that just set my little head spinning. So I was very surprised that the finale issue, while a satisfying ending to the story, left me less than excited.
It wasn’t because there wasn’t wall-to-wall action (there was), and it wasn’t because the writing or the art suddenly took a nose dive in quality (it didn’t). This issue left me feeling “meh” for the exact same reason issue 4 of The Unknown left me feeling “meh” — this felt like a setup for the next miniseries and not “The End” of this story. It’s like when you’re watching a good movie, and then they throw that little something in at the end that just leaves you with a “they’re going to try to make a sequel” feeling. Up until that point, it felt like you were getting a self-contained story that was entertaining for what it was and you were enjoying it. I felt that here, and wondered why it wasn’t just made a continuing series (much like I wonder with some other BOOM! titles). I’m the kind of person who likes there to be a definitive ending to a story if said story is set up to only last so many pages or so many issues. If you put “3 of 3” or “10 of 10,” my brain thinks that this particular story will be told within 3 or 10 issues and that’s it.
However, the very end is what made me keep this series in my collection despite it also being that little something that just screams sequel. It’s one of the first things you learn if you study any art form (drawing, writing, etc.): everything’s already been done and thought of before you came up with it. This was not the only Think Tank.
Rating: 3 / 5 Stars
