Champions #5

Simply put, Champions #5 has a clear purpose " one that Waid set forth in the very first issue when Ms. Marvel stated, "Help us win the hard way " the right way " not with hate, not with retribution, but with wisdom and hope." By creating a story pitting the extraordinary against intolerance and corruption, Waid and his artistic team triumph at providing a story that meets its purpose. Read Full Review

Overall, WOW. As I said earlier, this issue could not have come out at a better time. The world is a crazy, scary place right now and this issue shines a light on one of the major, if not THE major issue facing the world right now. I hope that everyone reads this. Even if you are not a fan of Champions, please just read this issue and the message it is sending. We may have powerful authority figures trying to get us to see their way of thinking. They may be telling us that we are wrong and they are right and they may take extreme measures to prove their point. But we don't have to agree because they say so. We don't have to lose our voice. If anything, speak up louder. Shout it at the top of your lungs. Don't show them we will back down and obey…show them we are Champions. Read Full Review

I'm with Waid for the angle he took with this story. This could have easily been a throwaway Gwen-pool crossover, but instead we get a problem the team can't punch their way out of. Ramos continues to give us the art we deserve whether it be in an action sequence or the gang just hanging with one another. The Champions are truly coming together as a team with each passing issue. This series continues to be the mouth piece for the teen legacy youth in Marvel and I'm here for it. Read Full Review

CHAMPIONS #5 continues to build upon the morals of our characters while bringing real world issues into the mix. Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado's art is as fun and expressive as ever, complimenting Mark Waid's storytelling wonderfully. Read Full Review

Champions #5 is a return to veracity, with a well-played guest star offering crucial perspective. Tough topics are handled more tactfully than in previous issues, but there are still plenty of teeth-clenching “can't believe they went theres” to tweak the squeamish. Overall, this is the closest Champions has yet come to meeting its stated directive, which is impressive considering the high bar the creative team has set for themselves. Read Full Review

Thankfully, she's apparently a one-issue guest. Hopefully we'll be back to focusing on the team next time around. Read Full Review

Champions honestly hasnt gotten a ton of press since its debuted. This is a pretty decent little series though, but it is getting a bit political, which is a turn off. Mark Waid is an excellent writer and hes teamed with Humberto Ramos, who is turning in some of his best work of his career right now. This is a series worth reading. Read Full Review

Some things just don't mix well together and are best kept apart.Like ice cream and cheese. This is the case with Gwenpool and the Champions. Goodon their own, but together they make a low quality comic. I'm a big fan of MarkWaid, but I'm not sure he knows enough about Gwenpool to properly write her likeHastings does. This issue is a mess because of her presence and the issue feelsalmost redundant at times. I like that the issue is trying to deal with somecurrent events but overall, it's a waste of time. Read Full Review

freemanlouis7

Feb 02, 2017

Funny, serious, timely, good pacing, true to continuity (Miles is in another universe right now). You either love or hate Ramos art but I happen to love it.

Sceritz

Feb 02, 2017

Art imitates life. In the comic medium this statement holds a unique truth. Heroes and villains can be used to juxtapose reality and introduce a metaphorical representation of what is inherently right or wrong in current day issues with all but blatantly stating it. Champions started strong with it's first four issues, but #5 dives in and unapologetically tackles the issues not in the American political system but rather it's current state of morality. Page one opens up with a burning Mosque. Sound familiar? Do your research. Days after Trump's immigration order, a Mosque in Texas was burnt to the ground. Art imitating life, or life imitating art? I won't go into the minutiae... Complete Review Here: http://ivwall.net/blog/champions-5 -mirror-americas-politcal-morality more

Wolf Warner

Feb 10, 2017

Hard to defeat the invisible evil empire=DISCRIMINATION

Spock's Brain

Feb 10, 2017

This issue continues in the social justice vein, but adds Gwenpool as...kind of a counterpoint, I guess? Anyway, they have to convince her to kind of think before blowing things up. One great aspect of the kind of one-off nature of this series means that she is gone; this is my first exposure to this character, and my response is a resounding "Ehhhh....."

supercoolyeah

Feb 01, 2017

Seemed a little cliche this issue like we've seen this already. And I don't know Ramos's art of Gwenpool just seemed a little wonky this time around. Hopefully next issue gets better because all comic book readers really do want a little action sometimes.

Jack's Yattering

Feb 22, 2017

SCORE: 7.2

CrazyforRAMU

Oct 31, 2017

The Champions fight a racist sheriff with the help of Gwenpool (not actually helpful). While it's a decent little adventure, Mark Waid is struggling in his quest to make this title accessible to all ages yet also real-world relevant. In this instance, the villain is a bit too gritty and real for the protagonists to get a proper super-heroic grip on, leading to a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. Issue #3 was a much more daring collision between superheroics and real-world problems; in contrast, this outing seems tame and over-cautious.

Kreniigh

Feb 07, 2017

Politics aside, the concept for this issue has some unrealized (maybe unrealizable) potential with Gwen's fourth wall breaking. She's absolutely right, as a person familiar with Marvel Universe history, to say that this kind of real-world conflict is almost always caused in the MU by the Sons of the Serpent or Hydra or something other than the uncomfortable truths of reality. And it's very odd to see her (presumably) proven wrong for a change. It highlights the disconnect that 'serious issue' stories like last month's Champions or the recent get-out-the-vote Ms. Marvel have in super-hero land, and I'm not sure why you would want to do that. It's like a Deadpool story about accidental toddler shootings.

RustonLF

Feb 22, 2017

Like so many of the other issues in this series the Champions face another common headline in U.S. papers today, corrupt police acting on racism. A very heavy subject that at times seemed like Waid was in a hurry to get through. What could have easily been a drawn out two issue arc seemed to be jammed together to fit in a cameo from Gwenpool. Gwenpool shows up to cause trouble for all the members of the Champions in her efforts to help. The interactions with the members are fun and probably the best part of the issue, but while Gwenpool can be fun I have not yet read a story that sets her apart as a character. Here knowledge of our universe only made her want to follow wild theories instead what you would think would be logically in a comic book. That made me think of her more as a comic book character who believes she is from our world than actually from it. Overall it is a fun issue but I ready to move on to the next. more

+ Like • Comments (1)

The-MJP - Jul 30, 2018

um....this issue rubbed me the wrong way, mainly because my uncle is a police officer and he never shot anybody

Sav

Feb 01, 2017

Horribly rushed. Way too many liberties were taken with gwenpool's character. The joke's were tiresomely lame. The ending had nothing. And whatever point they were trying to make was lost in the ridiculous dialogue. The art is still kickass though. Lovin' that

Synthozoid

Mar 17, 2017

This sucked. And I'm a bleeding heart liberal.

Ryan

Jan 29, 2019

Champions’ dry streak continues. I’m starting to lose interest in what started out as an intriguing title. Some people like this judging by the reviews so if you really want to l, go for it but read with caution

thecomiccookebook

Feb 03, 2017

This was a very poor way to shoehorn in Gwenpool, she unfortunately was useless and her personality doesn't suit the tone of this book. Speaking of tone, this book is completely all of the place. Ramos art, the inclusion of Gwenpool, some of the snarky banter with the kids tells me that the book is lighthearted but at the same time, Waid is juggling very serious topics of police ignorance and racism. It's a shame because I agree with a lot of the stances that Waid addresses in this but the bizarre tone shifts and ill-fitted artwork make this book not work.

ftptube

Feb 03, 2017

Horrible issue. Marvel is really bad right now. (Sorry Waid.)