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MIND MGMT #5
MIND MGMT, Volume Five: The Eraser
The mission to stop Mind Management has fallen apart, and after nearly losing her mind at the hands of the Eraser, Meru finds herself alone in a world of rogue agents. To press on, she’ll need to seek out a new mentor—the First Immortal!
Collecting: MIND MGMT 25–30
Collecting: MIND MGMT 25–30
168 pages, Hardcover
First published July 22, 2015
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262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 18, 2016
Oh my, still more layers, slowly merging, so seductive, so good...
February 1, 2017
Jesus, what a beautifully written and drawn series. So hard to describe but absolutely amazing!
September 12, 2018
Not typing a full review, just wanted to add that this volume is great, the only reason it's not a 5-star is because I didn't care for the ending.
September 30, 2015
This is terrific stuff, one of my favorite series by one of my favorite artists, working at the top of his game with his best work thus far. For those of you unfamiliar with it, it's a sci fi thriller series about a top secret organization with agents who have various psychic (mind management) powers. There's some question about whether the organization should continue, a la Watchmen, as Mistakes Have Been Made. Our heroine if Meru, and the person who emerges on the other side is The Eraser. Meru has to deal with rogue agents in her struggle with The Eraser, and in her journey she seeks out a mentor, one of the original Immortals, who basically encourages her to follow her own instincts: You already Know What You Have To Know.
At times this one felt something like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as Meru goes into secret underwater caves to find said mentor. Plenty o' people die as the battle heats up. But on the other hand, this was less of an action volume, as it gave us some of the back story we needed to move on. So if following the story was frustrating for you in the first four volumes, this will bring disparate characters and plot threads together to some extent and build toward the Big Finish of volume 6.
But if you are asking for a Coherent Narrative you can follow as you do in most thrillers and stories in general, you should know Kindt is more meta, more pomo, than other authors. He always wants us to reflect on the nature and limits and possibilities of Story and not just read to a satisfying conclusion. Everything he does is to rope you into the intrigue, and just merely answering your readerly questions is boring to him. He wants you to FEEL the stories, and THINK of all the possibilities; he doesn't want you to know everything that is going on. His art is perfectly suited to this approach, too, just giving you enough. Art as intrigue, as subtle design. And the book is a gorgeous thing to have and hold, as frustratingly sketchy as others sometimes find him. He uses as little as possible, a splash of color, a single smirked line, to convey all he needs. No glossy mass produced superhero comics for him.
When I think of Kindt and this series in particular I sometimes think of The Big Sleep, that Howard Hawks Bogart-Bacall thriller (based on the Phillip Marlowe novel) that Critics in close analysis reveal is completely incoherent, impossible to know what is going on, really. But most Viewers think it is one of the best movies ever, and do they care if every single moment makes sense? Maybe Kindt's story does finally make sense in every detail and maybe it doesn't, but if that is what you are reading it for, go read something else, read Miss Marple. This is a thriller with a different purpose, one to engage your brain and senses. It did and does mine.
At times this one felt something like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as Meru goes into secret underwater caves to find said mentor. Plenty o' people die as the battle heats up. But on the other hand, this was less of an action volume, as it gave us some of the back story we needed to move on. So if following the story was frustrating for you in the first four volumes, this will bring disparate characters and plot threads together to some extent and build toward the Big Finish of volume 6.
But if you are asking for a Coherent Narrative you can follow as you do in most thrillers and stories in general, you should know Kindt is more meta, more pomo, than other authors. He always wants us to reflect on the nature and limits and possibilities of Story and not just read to a satisfying conclusion. Everything he does is to rope you into the intrigue, and just merely answering your readerly questions is boring to him. He wants you to FEEL the stories, and THINK of all the possibilities; he doesn't want you to know everything that is going on. His art is perfectly suited to this approach, too, just giving you enough. Art as intrigue, as subtle design. And the book is a gorgeous thing to have and hold, as frustratingly sketchy as others sometimes find him. He uses as little as possible, a splash of color, a single smirked line, to convey all he needs. No glossy mass produced superhero comics for him.
When I think of Kindt and this series in particular I sometimes think of The Big Sleep, that Howard Hawks Bogart-Bacall thriller (based on the Phillip Marlowe novel) that Critics in close analysis reveal is completely incoherent, impossible to know what is going on, really. But most Viewers think it is one of the best movies ever, and do they care if every single moment makes sense? Maybe Kindt's story does finally make sense in every detail and maybe it doesn't, but if that is what you are reading it for, go read something else, read Miss Marple. This is a thriller with a different purpose, one to engage your brain and senses. It did and does mine.
February 22, 2018
I found volume 4 overly convulted and it made me question where the story was going, but volume 5 puts all that behind and moves back to current day where Meru now has to take on the Eraser, and in this volume we understand why and who she truly is.
A very interesting volume.
A very interesting volume.
November 8, 2015
This mainly feels like a bridge volume, as we recover from the disasters of volume 4 and prepare for the finale of volume 6. It's a bit quiet as a result, without the greatness of some of Mind Mgmt.'s volumes. Nonetheless, it's got the beauty of a typical Mind Mgmt volume and it does advance things. The height of the volume is clearly the last issue, which gives background on the Eraser and makes you want to go back and reread volume 1 (again).
October 10, 2015
Love these. This one was less confusing than the last 4, I think. Summed a lot up and was a bit more straightforward.
April 27, 2016
Edging towards the conclusion here, a LITTLE bit more unnecessary set dressing, but we don't get into self-indulgent bullshit. Feels a little like this series might have been ready to end before Matt Kindt was totally ready to end it, but only here and there.
Read
March 19, 2023Meru, now going rogue, finds the first Immortal and he tells her (us) the origins of Mind Management. Pretty interesting and tragic, even if we could already fill in the gaps with what came before. Then Meru tracks down the Eraser, and after a tense confrontation, we get her origin in issue 30. Again, we already knew her story, but this does answer a lingering question or two and gives her more depth than before.
Volume five is a solid course correction by Kindt after two shaky volumes. I don't know how he's going to wrap this up but I'm curious. Gotta say though, I'm glad there's only one more book, because the story has been stretching thin for a while.
Volume five is a solid course correction by Kindt after two shaky volumes. I don't know how he's going to wrap this up but I'm curious. Gotta say though, I'm glad there's only one more book, because the story has been stretching thin for a while.
January 23, 2021
Theatre of the mind. Second floor. Transition counselor = hit man.
Lots of strange abilities that are based on belief and mental fortitude.
Lots of strange abilities that are based on belief and mental fortitude.
July 16, 2021
Kindt is back to speed with this penultimate volume:
* The handmade covers are something else. Pure beauty.
* The twist makes a lot of sense and moves the story forward.
* The last filler issue drawn in the style of retro 30s sci-fi magazines is the best filler issue so far.
* Mushrooms, we need more mushrooms!
* The handmade covers are something else. Pure beauty.
* The twist makes a lot of sense and moves the story forward.
* The last filler issue drawn in the style of retro 30s sci-fi magazines is the best filler issue so far.
* Mushrooms, we need more mushrooms!
July 30, 2021
Меру становится все сильнее и круче, я все нетерпеливее жду развязки.
Для меня этот комикс сильно отличается от супергероики, которую я читала. В лучшую сторону по части фишек с картинкой и мыслями.
Для меня этот комикс сильно отличается от супергероики, которую я читала. В лучшую сторону по части фишек с картинкой и мыслями.
February 27, 2016
I probably wouldn't bother reading this if I didn't know the next volume is the conclusion.
May 15, 2022
(Zero spoiler review for the omnibus collecting this volume) 2.5/5
2.5 stars, and that's being generous. Boy, what a slog. I'm really glad that's over. Never the reaction you want at the end of a long running series. No remorse. No emotion, no longing. Just a big old thank god, I don' ever have to read that again.
I might have enjoyed it more if I knew what the hell was going on half the time. The world Kindt created here isn't rich, or full, or dense. its just confusing. Unimpressively confusing. I really don't know what else to say. People act like this is a great mystery, a fantastic riddle that slowly unravels. Its not. It's bland, lame and not very well executed. You know when the strongest thing about a Matt Kindt drawn book is the art that you have a turkey on your hands. Chances are you're not reading a review of the final book in the series to see if you should start this series, although if by chance you are, don't. This is possibly one of the most overrated (Goodreads scores) books I've ever read. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
2.5 stars, and that's being generous. Boy, what a slog. I'm really glad that's over. Never the reaction you want at the end of a long running series. No remorse. No emotion, no longing. Just a big old thank god, I don' ever have to read that again.
I might have enjoyed it more if I knew what the hell was going on half the time. The world Kindt created here isn't rich, or full, or dense. its just confusing. Unimpressively confusing. I really don't know what else to say. People act like this is a great mystery, a fantastic riddle that slowly unravels. Its not. It's bland, lame and not very well executed. You know when the strongest thing about a Matt Kindt drawn book is the art that you have a turkey on your hands. Chances are you're not reading a review of the final book in the series to see if you should start this series, although if by chance you are, don't. This is possibly one of the most overrated (Goodreads scores) books I've ever read. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
December 26, 2017
I feel like this series really peaked in volume three, with heroes and villains all coming together to recruit one agent in the midst of that agent's explosive deconstruction of a suburban neighborhood. What a set piece! Volume four continued along that thread, full of action and twists that saw our heroes scattered. Now, volume five picks up with Meru alone, attempting to find the first Immortal since all of her companions appear to be dead. It's not an unexpected development after the way volume four ended, but it leads to a wandering, disjointed volume since Meru simply isn't that interesting of a character on her own. And the title of volume five advertises it as the true history of the Eraser...but that history is revealed in a short sequence that offers no real surprises. It's still an enjoyable read with some interesting revelations, but after the pulse-pounding nature of volumes three and four, volume five is somewhat of a letdown.
January 10, 2020
Oh wow, this book really stresses that things are entering a whole new end game as the "board" has largely been reset seemingly in favor of the Eraser's faction that is trying to put Mind Management back together. But all roads lead back to Meru, as has been the story since this comic series began. And the greater key to things lies with Meru getting the help she needs to unlock her full potential - something that has been alluded to many times by members of all involved factions.
This is definitely one of the more evocative books as we get to explore the story of the dread Eraser and somewhat better understand how she came to be the way she is given her fearsome powers to manipulate memories. And in many ways, she may be one of the most fascinating members of Mind Management in the series, even if it seems that she's on the more troubling side of this core conflict of the comic series.
This is definitely one of the more evocative books as we get to explore the story of the dread Eraser and somewhat better understand how she came to be the way she is given her fearsome powers to manipulate memories. And in many ways, she may be one of the most fascinating members of Mind Management in the series, even if it seems that she's on the more troubling side of this core conflict of the comic series.
July 21, 2017
This volume feels like the turning point. With the disasters of the previous volume, Meru is basically on her own, and with no one to depend on, she starts depending on herself. She digs up more history of the origin of Mind MGMT, searches for the first immortal, and takes on the Eraser. The level of action really ramps up, and Meru's personality gets a lot of growth here. The book still challenges its readers with its formatting, but uses it to better effect. The artwork is more memorable here, with some gorgeous scenes. The climax is impressive, and the final issue in the collection is fascinating in how different it is from the rest. This leaves me definitely wanting to read the final volume.
September 27, 2017
Continua la terribile storia di Henry Lime, un essere così potente da dubitare che chiunque possa resistergli, anche l'amore della propria vita. E da accartocciarsi sotto il peso del proprio potere. Analisi originalissima di un super potere. Poco da dire su Kindt se non che Mind Mgmt si dimostra, pagina dopo pagina, sempre più interessante. Terribile la sequenza dell'abbandono, quando l'uomo che metteva tutti d'accordo lascia andare un'onda di influenza che fa esattamente l'opposto e rende tutti furiosi, ma fantastico il finale, quando Meru capisce di essere l'unica scampata alla strage, e che il responsabile per la morte di tutta la sua famiglia è proprio l'uomo da cui è arrivata dopo un lungo viaggio. Tutto questo prima che gli immortali irrompano nella scena.
June 15, 2020
At long last, answers! Though volume 4 started to crumble under its own weight, it put the pieces into play to start the end game and begin pulling back the curtain on the mysteries. Though this book is by far the most streamlined of the series, I still found myself returning to previous issues and digging through them as new evidence came to light. The level of audience participation in this series is second to none. Darwyn Cooke puts it beautifully in the intro: this series is the evidence of a mind-bending mystery laid out before you. Putting that evidence to use along the way is half the fun.
September 24, 2019
This continues to be a fantastic series. This volume puts some more focus on The Eraser, who's a character we've been getting bits and pieces about throughout the series. She's a fantastic character, probably one of the best in the series right alongside Henry Lyme. As in previous volumes, the art is very stylised and inventive and just plain fantastic. As in previous volumes, there are parts of the story that are confusing and not very coherent. Can't wait to read the final volume!
May 21, 2019
Well the plot is moving forward, mostly. A few past events are revisited/retold, but with new information. The motivation and conflict is somewhat more clear, and the storytelling is more direct than in the previous (intentionally fragmented) volume. There are some new things introduced, not sure if they work. But I’m still in it, and reading on.
November 13, 2017
Awesome. This series is really really well done. I'm not even a fan of Matt kindt. It was my own fault that I got a little lost in book 4 but this one made up for it and more. I'm back on track and can't wait for book 6 conclusion.
October 21, 2019
Somehow the complexity of the series increases and Meru unravels the mystery of the first immortal. It is an amazing blend of adventure styles like, the lost Atlantis, Noir, superheroes and psychological thriller.
September 6, 2017
This series is so original and hasn't slowed down a bit.
July 15, 2018
This was the best volume since Volume 2.
May 20, 2020
i like that this volume is a little slower than the previous ones. things are starting to feel like they might actually tie up. looking forward to the finale.
August 2, 2021
As with a lot of great long-arc stories, we eventually get the back story behind the antagonist. Kindt doesn't disappoint here. This volume makes a great penultimate collection for the series.
November 14, 2021
::thumbs up::
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews