Life Is Strange Vol. 5: Coming Home

Life is Strange Comics #5

by Emma Vieceli, Claudia Leonardi (Illustrator), Andrea Izzo (Colorist)

The fifth volume of the comic series based on the Bafta Award-winning Square Enix video game Life is Strange, following the strange and wonderful tales of time-travelling Max Caulfield!

Collects issues #17-20 of the hit Life is Strange comic series, set after the events of the BAFTA-winning video game series!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, LGBT, Science Fiction, Queer, Young Adult, Fantasy

112 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2021

About the author

Emma Vieceli (born June 13, 1979, in Essex) is a professional British comics artist of Italian-English heritage. She is currently a resident of a small village in Cambridgeshire, England.

From self-publishing to some of the biggest book publishers in the world, Emma loves telling stories with pictures and believes that comics should be 'For everyone, About anything, By anyone' (<--FAB!).

The writer for Life is Strange (Titan comics), she is happy to cross the streams and works as both writer and artist depending on the project. Her recent work as an artist includes: The Modern Frankenstein (Magma Comix), Olivia Twist (Dark Horse), Alex Rider (Walker books), The Adventures of Supergirl (DC comics), Doctor Who (Titan comics), Jem & the holograms (IDW) the New York Times-bestselling Vampire Academy graphic novel series (PenguinRandomHouse), Back to the Future (IDW) and Avalon Chronicles (Oni Press)
She co-creates the critically acclaimed independent web series, BREAKS with Malin Ryden (collected editions published through SoaringPenguin), with Vieceli co-writing and 'comicking' (art/tone/letters).
Alongside comics, she worked on the A&E television series, Bates Motel, providing the sketchbook found by Norman Bates, as an artist with tinyrebel on their Doctor Who Infinity games, and recently joined the writing team for Vile Monarch's life sim video game, Growing Up.

Reviews

[~•k a t•~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*slaps cover* This thing can fit so many Lesbians in it

[Matthias Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

At this point I am only reading this series because I want to see the end of it.
There are more people with supernatural powers, but we don’t really understand what they are or how they work.

[marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mam ochotę przejść jeszcze raz life is strange lol

[T.R. Preston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here comes the nonsense. Can you smell it on the wind? Copouts and retcons are sneaking up on you. Arm yourselves, comrades.

[Moe · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARUM hab ich Band 6 noch nicht?? 😭

[Suhasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damn that cliffhanger!

[Jesse Fogwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

steph steph steph steph steph steph steph

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another day, another great Life is Strange volume! So this is the second last volume in this series, as they prepare for the finale of Max and Cloe finally being reunited! I just love these characters ever since I played the games and this volume has tons of Easter eggs and call backs to both the first game and Before the Storm!

Artwork as usual is excellent and I just love the way they use colors and draw some of the panels! In terms of the bits collected in here that ties into the new True Colors game, its really not much (6 pages total), as its literally just the main character of the new game, Alex, getting on a bus and heading off to the town where the True Colors game will be set. So if your expecting a huge tie in or hints to that games narrative, your not going to get much here. But otherwise another solid volume in this series!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado mucho, tiene muchos momentos mas emotivos que en los dos números anteriores, tanto de Chloe y Max como de Chloe y Rachel, y parece que todo va encajando poco a poco. También me ha encantado el cameo de Steph 🫶

[Sailor · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Coming Home", boy, do I wish! Part of me is sad this series is going to end with barely any issues with the main characters in the same darn panel, but the other part of me is glad I won't have to deal with Emma's ship-baiting for much longer. There were some cute moments, but not nearly enough to make up for the baiting and gal paling done here

Still love Claudia's art though

[Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic series continues to enrich the great experience I’ve had with the Life is Strange video games with every new volume that’s come out so far. I've also grown fond of the characters that have been introduced in this series, especially Pixie. I’m sad that this series is coming to an end soon, but I'm also looking forward to the conclusion of this rollercoaster of a story.

[Harry Hipkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole story feels like its in a holding pattern, like they had an idea for the whole story but have been padding it out too long to make it last 6 volumes.

[Ariadne Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the previous issues, I closed this one with the desperate need to immediately start the next chapter.
I can’t believe I only have one left! What will I do without this story now…
The gem of volume 5, besides Max and Chloe’s magical connection, is MY BAE STEPH making an appearance in grand style!!! I screamed when she came into the scene.
Okay, no more babbling. It’s time to read “Settling Dust”. My babies better get a happy ending, or I’m going to riot.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really loved this series and can't wait to read the final comic.

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

not related to anything in the graphic novel, but the cover is so pretty i love it

[alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You said this all started with a storm. Maybe it's supposed to end with one."

[Nicklas Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

multiversal schizophrenia does not acost to the pain of acting as someone from *Denmark*

also having a banger cover

[Larakaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

That got very real and I love the creators for that but that makes it really heavy, too.

[leyla]

Everybody get Gay!!!!!

[Grant Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The journey throughout the Life is Strange comics so far has been heartwarming, and what I believe to be a more than decent adaptation and sequel to one of my favorite games of all time. I think this penultimate chapter kept the quality consistent from the last chapter.

In Volume 5, it is revealed that Trix has the power to perceive and communicate between both universes, this makes her character more central to the plot compared to previous chapters. I think she is cool, as well as the way the characters interact with each other. I think the wholesome road trip storyline that happens besides the multiverse drama is a good side story that captures the feeling of this franchise in comic form.

I can’t wait to see how the story concludes, and it was a pleasant surprise to see Steph back in this comic. I think she is a cool character that feels like an important bridge between the different LiS properties. Overall, this was an enjoyable chapter that, although not perfect, once again feels written by people who truly understand the game’s spirit.

Final Score: 80/100

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[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Marius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Situation spitzt sich zu

Inhalt: Während sich die Realitäten immer näher kommen, sammelt Max ihre Verbündeten um sich - bereit die Tür aufzustoßen und endlich ihre Chloe wieder zu finden. Zum Glück bekommt sie dabei unerwartete Hilfe...

Bewertung: Mit "Heimkehr" setzt Emma Vieceli dort an, wo "Spuren" aufgehört hat. Die Realitäten kommen einander immer näher. Tristan kann mittlerweile den Schleier fast mühelos durchqueren und fungiert als eine Art "Hermes" zwischen den getrennten Liebenden. Er selbst findet unterdessen immer mehr heraus, was ihn ausmacht und wo er hingehört. Eine schöne Hommage an seinen Werdegang vom Streuner und ein deutliches Symbol für das nahende Ende. Unterdessen lernt Max eine neue Kraft: Statt die Zeit allgemein zurück zu drehen, kann sie dies nun spezifisch für ausgewählte Objekte. Tolle Idee, die mit "Taschenzeit" auch noch einen putzigen Namen erhält. Langsam spitzt sich alles vor den Augen des Lesers zum Großen Finale zu. Das riesige Konstrukt, was in den Vorgängern erschaffen wurde mit all den verschiedenen Komponenten und Fähigkeiten erhält eine zusammenfassende Form. Die war auch bitter nötig, denn selbst für mich, der alle Bände in kurzer Zeit gelesen hat, waren die ständigen Sprünge irgendwann anstrengend und Dinge begannen zu verschwimmen. Trotzdem fand die Autorin auch diesem Band noch Platz für einen weiteren Charakter, der mich sehr gefreut hat: Steph ist wieder da und darüber bin ich mehr als heilfroh. Schon immer eine meiner Lieblingsfiguren und durch "True Colors" erst recht. Danke Emma Vieceli dafür! Und für die Pen&Paper-like Zusammenfassung des Geschehens aller Teile am Ende. Das war nicht nur unterhaltsam, sondern sinnvoll für jeden Leser. Der größte Moment im fünften Teil war jedoch zweifellos das Aufeinandertreffen von Chloe und Max im Schmetterlingshaus. Ein emotionaler Moment sondergleichen, der auch den blauen Schmetterling als Symbol der Reihe wiedergebracht hat. Zum Zeichenstil muss ich wirklich nichts mehr sagen. Er gefällt mir immer besser und die Überschneidungen zwischen den Welten wären ohne die Bilder nicht dasselbe. Am schönsten fand ich zweifellos die Schneeballschlachtszene gestaltet.

Fazit: Alle Wege vereinen sich auf geschickte Weise - und Gamemaster Steph is back! Gesamt: 5/5

[Cudahy Family Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

Life is Strange Volume 5: Coming Home starts to really muddle the storyline. It continues to go back and forth between the two timelines but this time it is a lot harder to figure out when it switches and which timeline I’m reading. It’s not helped by the fact that certain characters have been between both worlds and now we’re pulling in even more. But in the area of characters, I’m driven nuts by how many people are continuously being pulled into the ‘secret’ of where Max comes from and her powers and how everyone is totally cool with it once told. No one really questions or doubts it.

This story is also now being influenced by the other Life is Strange games that have the audacity to call themselves part of the original universe, where everyone just has powers now! I didn’t mind Tristan too much because he was from another timeline and there was a reasoning to how he received his powers (a terrible event similar to Max) but now we’re just randomly giving them to others for no reason, who have apparently had them since they were little but never realized what they were? Really? And Max’s power has involved into so many different things that are just popping up and she gives the abilities names and seems to perfect it with very little effort. I remember when she was having a hard time with her original rewind ability and how it was hurting her to use it. Well no more, she’s got this without any effort!

And once again, everyone is in the same location for the festival but they have to wait until the actual day because reasons? And if that festival doesn’t happen then Max can’t go home! I just keep asking why? Especially when you have a timeline jumper that can easily coordinate these things, they don’t have to guess.

I started to feel annoyed in this volume and now I just want to see how this story ends. Why does it seem to be taking so long? It’s like they knew what story they wanted to tell but also wanted it to be six volumes despite not having enough content for it, I mean this volume had a whole two issues in it while the rest have had four. Well, here’s hoping the story at least ends strong.

[JJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Max and Chloe continue their parallel universe road trip, the Life is Strange comics continue to lose me a bit. In the two issues collected here, it's mostly more of the same -- Max and Chloe go from location to location, feeling echoes of their parallel universe selves, before landing at a cliffhanger that hints at how the series is going to wrap up. Unfortunately, I'm still worried that there's no point to it all. Max is just fighting to get back where she was at the beginning of the series, and the parallel universe/cosmic stuff just seems like an excuse to write some (admittedly well-executed and emotionally evocative) conversations between characters who couldn't otherwise have them. In general, I was worn out of the road trip story in the previous volume, and this one doesn't introduce any new elements to the trip itself that win me over.

The one new element that does work well is increased focus on Pixie. Previous issues did a good job laying the groundwork for Pixie's more important role here. I felt like there was just enough foreshadowing of the role she'd come to play and she's instantly more likable than Tristan (who takes a bit of a backseat as a primary side character).

This volume also includes material from a Free Comic Book Day release. The FCBD material is an extremely brief recap of the series to this point as told by Steph (from the Before the Storm/True Colors games) to Pixie in an awkward "text adventure" frame story that doesn't make any sense logically. It's a big miss for me, although I'm torn on the merits of this material vs. two more dragged out issues of the road trip.

I'm really rooting for Life is Strange to wrap up in a satisfying way, but the deeper I get into the series the more concerned I get that the overall plot isn't really the point. I'm definitely going to dive straight into the final volume, but maybe some strong interpersonal dynamics and conversations is the best that I can hope for.

[The Obsidian Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review
Pixie reveals that when she was A child she nearly got hit by A vehicle but she's always felt that she shouldn't be there. Her mother explains that her mind will think of what could have happened but it wasn't her time and to be thankful for it. Pixie tells Chloe and Tristan that she can see other possibilities and that she knew Chloe was lying about Max going away to retreat after Arcadia Bay. But Pixie is seeing Rachel Amber when Rachel isn't alive in Pixie timeline.
Tristan is handed A flyer and he uses it to get back to Max. Max is relieved to see him again.
Victoria talks to Chloe to offer A space in Victoria's gallery as Max has taken really great photos. Chloe said she'd talk to Max when she gets home. Chloe and Pixie vist A psychic to have A reading done and A storm is mentioned.
In both Realities: butterfly rainforest, Florida museum
Chloe and Max have A flicker where they both manage to see eachother for A spilt second. The storm is the way home but with the stage A no go. Max will do what ever it takes to get home... To be continued

My thoughts
Loved this, fast paced and really enjoyed this story. Great graphics as always perfect for life is strange fans.

[Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. All the little character development moments that we got were so amazing. For example Victoria (SHE IS BACKK) wants to offer Max' work a place in her art gallery. Which is so dope. I also like the fact that Alternate Chloe and Max finally decided to move forward and make the most out of the limited time that they have together as best friends. ALSO STEPH IS IN THIS??? OMGGGG. I just love how organic these 'cameo' appearances are. Once again this didn't feel forced like... at all. Plus seeing Rachel-Chloe-Steph together was priceless. And Steph finally meeting Max of course. PIXIE HAVING POWERS WAS ALSO A GREAT TWIST. She is turning into one of my favs. Same with Tristan. Anyways. I cannot wait to read the final volume and I hope that it sticks the landing.

"It started with a storm. It will end with a storm"

[Gracie Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! ANOTHER AMAZING READ! There is a clear pattern here!

FIRSTLY, THE FACT TRISTAN CAN SWITCH BETWEEN UNIVERSES... WILLINGLY! IS AWESOME! This makes everything so much easier, Max and Chloe have a messenger now! The way he just switches back and forth is SUPER entertaining to me! (MOSES!)

Also, Pixie is involved! Another person who can help! This is so exciting! I knew she thought something was up. She was asking questions about Tristan and where he came from! To be fair I would be hella curious too!

Their dreams! Max and Chloe had the same dreams. They are so in love. It makes me so lonely HAHA! When they raced to see who would wake up first and both said "...I win"

SHUT UP IT IS SO CUTE! THEY MISS EACH OTHER SO BADLY!

AND THEY SAW EACH OTHER! IN A FLICKER... BUT IT STILL COUNTS! If only Tristan were there!

SOME MORE OLD FACES! STEPH! WE LOVE STEPH!

AND! TRISTAN AND LAWRENCE. MY BOYS! THEY ARE ADORABLE! SO, SO CUTE! THEY KEEP ASKING ABOUT EACH OTHER AND KEEP RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER. I LOVE IT. I AM SO JEALOUS! HAHA!

I cannot wait to read the next one!!! I am HELLA EXCITED!

[JCRD]

Las piezas están terminando de colocarse en el tablero y van a dejar todo listo para la reunión de mis dos lesbianas (casi) favoritas. A lo tonto Pixie ha ido ganando protagonismo y me gusta su inclusión en el grupo, igual que Tristan. La parte costumbrista creo que se va a ir dejando cada vez más de lado para tirar por otra cosa que también me puede: esa amistad, ese amor, para el que viajar entre universos/líneas temporales alternativas no es nada. Esa relación que es a prueba de bombas y que si debe romper las leyes de la física lo hará sin pensarlo dos veces si con eso esta pareja puede reunirse.

Quiero mucho a Chloe y Max, y estoy que me va a salir el corazón del pecho cuando por fin se encuentren de nuevo.

[SteveL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic edition to the series as it comes to a close. A lot of familiar faces for those familiar with the different entries in the series. Characters from across the different games, comics and even the multiverse come together in an almost Avengers like set up. While it is cool it does also feel a big predictable.

The art is still fantastic and does a good job of the subtle differences between the two universes the comic takes place. We also get the free comic day one shot that recaps the entire story around a DnD fame. It does feel like it is building to another massive event, but with only one volume left it is hard to figure out how they will squeeze so much into only a few issues. Still a must read for fans of the series.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

v.5 is a solid continuation from the steps taken in v.4. I'm rating this one a bit less because it feels like they've added fluff to the narrative to artificially lengthen it. This could have been the final volume with no problems. The ability to keep the two main timeline straight is starting to reach a breaking point as Tristan's ability has him in one timeline then the other, Max's Chloe is having a more prominent role, as is Pixie in both timelines... and don't even get me started on Steph, who shows up randomly midway through the volume (but I'll talk about her in the v.6 review).

Anyway, this is solid enough.