Klik Klik Boom #5
Review
Writer: Doug Wagner
Artist: Douglas Dabbs
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Format: Single-issue
Klik Klik Boom reaches its climactic finish with an issue packed with emotional payoffs and a beautifully crafted final confrontation.
Klik Klik Boom #5
ReviewWriter: Doug Wagner
Artist: Douglas Dabbs
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Format: Single-issue
Klik Klik Boom reaches its climactic finish with an issue packed with emotional payoffs and a beautifully crafted final confrontation.
Klik Klik Boom has been one of the biggest surprises for me this year in comics. Having not been so familiar with Doug Wagner’s previous work, I picked this series up based solely on its unique premise. A revenge story about a mute assassin who only speaks through Polaroid pictures? I am here for it! Outlandish storylines like that are why I love exploring the world of creator-owned comics. You never know what you’ll discover along the way. Klik Klik Boom was exactly what I hoped for. It’s a gem of a series packed with heartfelt storytelling and showstopping art.
After a short and sweet five-issue run, Klik Klik Boom reaches its explosive finish. The story has been a wild ride, and this latest issue pulled no punches for its big finale. Want to know more about it? Let’s get to my review!
Image: Image ComicsOverview
With no more places to run, Sprout embarks on a suicide mission to get revenge on Harrington and Minerva World Services. By throwing herself straight into the shark tank, she gets a face-to-face meeting with Harrington himself. While she expected the corrupt CEO to be armed with deadly weapons and bodyguards, what she didn’t see coming were the heartbreaking secrets he had to tell about Sprout’s life.
It takes some help from Serena to get Sprout out of the dicey situation. The crafty reporter didn’t come alone either. She has her own plans of exposing Harrington and Minerva for the horrors they’ve committed.
Image: Image ComicsReview
Klik Klik Boom being a revenge story meant it would only end in one way: with someone’s head on a platter. Not only did this issue deliver the beautiful action sequences we’ve come to expect from the series, but it also hit hard with its emotional payoffs. We see Sprout hit her lowest low and highest high, all within a single issue. While the build-up to the big finish felt a bit rushed to me because of how easily everything fell into place, it still made for a very cathartic and visually stunning climax. Having Sprout finally bear her natural hair color was a nice visual and narrative touch to show the gloves are off for her big moment.
Artist Doug Dabbs was a rockstar throughout the entire series. There’s a vibrance and energy to his art that makes every panel look so eye-catching. Everything from Sprout’s eccentric character design to the slick frame compositions leaps off the pages. But the thing that lept out to me the most about his art style is how detailed he is with character expressions. Whether it's the smugness of Harrington or the pent-up rage of Sprout, the emotions of each scene are palpable because of the crisp facial illustrations. The looks on the characters’ faces are what pushed the final confrontation over the top. Beyond the stunning choreography that looked straight out of a John Wick film, the raw emotions that flow from panel to panel make it such an incredible climactic scene. It made the end of Sprout’s journey all the more satisfying when the dust finally settled.
Image: Image ComicsFinal Thoughts
This final issue of Klik Klik Boom was a wild ride from start to finish. Its powerful balance of emotional payoffs and pulse-pounding action makes it the perfect finale for such an eccentric series. While I came into the series unfamiliar with both Doug Wagner and Doug Dabbs’ previous works, I walked away from this excited to see what crazy new comics they come up with next.
Why You Should Read Klik Klik Boom
- Sprout is a very unique protagonist you love to root for.
- The finale is packed with satisfying emotional payoffs.
- Doug Dabbs’ art style is both gritty and stylish.