Oblivion Song, Vol. 5

Oblivion Song #5

by Robert Kirkman, Lorenzo De Felici (Artist), Annalisa Leoni (Artist)

A decade ago, 300,000 citizens of Philadelphia were suddenly lost in Oblivion. There was a time when Nathan Cole was the only one searching Oblivion for human survivors lost there. Now, he's the one in need of rescue!

Collects OBLIVION SONG #25-30.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Dystopia, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

140 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2021

About the author

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.

Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.

In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book skips ahead three years from each character's perspective and we see what they've been up to in the intervening years. There's a lot of great things in this book. Unfortunately, the art isn't one of them. There are some long passages without any dialogue and I have an incredibly difficult time telling what's happening solely from the art, especially when they are on the alien planet. The fight sequences just look like random lines on the panel to me. This would be a 5 star book with a better artist.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite volume of Oblivion Song so far. This was genuinely breathtaking and I swear my heart rate was actually elevated reading this one. The only bird poo in my pint was learning the next volume will be the last, damnit!

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull as dishwater - we're really scraping the bottom of the storytelling barrel here. Now we pivot to an invasion story that has nothing interesting to add.

De Felici's art falls apart when it has to handle action scenes, which become nearly incomprehensible.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three years later, and everything's going wrong. Oblivion is invading, Nathan is missing, and Earth is woefully unprepared.

This volume really kicks things into high gear. There's a lot of plot progression, some more heartfelt reunions, and a cliffhanger ending that turns the series on its head in a way that only Robert Kirkman can pull off. De Felici's artwork remains superb, and Kirkman always knows when to get out of the way and let him do the heavy lifting.

Apparently there's only 6 issues of the series left, and there's a hell of a lot left to do, so fingers crossed.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intense and action-packed volume. Much of this volume has the reader exploring what's happened in the three year timeskip, as we cut to one character's perspective to another while slowly building the ongoing story in the background. It culminates in a big invasion force war between Oblivion and Earth, with some incredible fights and impressive display of artistic range. There's still a lot of drawn-out exposition that makes the story deeper but a bit bogged down, though all of that can be forgiven for the deeper emotional moments and the action scenes.

The first issue of the volume probably has more pages without dialogue than pages with dialogue, the art really tells most of the story here. Kirkman knows when to step back and let De Felici go wild, and by the end we get treated to some great art not just of the Oblivion setting and creatures but some good old Earth fighter jets and explosions.

It's another fantastic volume in this series and I look forward to seeing where this goes next after how this volume ends.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with Season Two back in Vol. 3, the third season of the series kicks off with a three-year jump.

The cast is all separated at this low point before next volume's finale, so we have to jump back and forth four or five times catching up with everyone then and now.

The protagonist, Nathan Cole, goes all Dances with Wolves stuck in Oblivion while his friends on Earth scramble to save him and prepare for all-out war with the aliens.

A lot happens -- some of it pretty cheesy -- but I'm detached from the characters and plot at this point and just nursing a little bit of idle curiosity as to how it all turns out next time (tomorrow).


FOR REFERENCE:

Contains material originally published in single magazine form as Oblivion Song #25-30.

Contents: Chapter Five / Robert Kirkman, writer; Lorenzo De Felici, illustrator -- Bonus Story / Robert Kirkman, writer; Annalisa Leoni, illustrator

[Valéria. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, finally finished Oblivion Song. I went through all six books today and I must admit, I loved it even more than I did in first reading. It’s not just beautifully illustrated monsters and amazing world, it’s beautiful story about two brothers and couple more people dealing with problems in their lives. It’s full of love, sadness. It’s interesting, characters’ development is nicely done. I can’t find any negatives really. For me this will always be one of my most favorite series I’ve ever read.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A three year time leap brings us right up to the invasion countdown! Oblivion Song is yet another hit from Robert Kirkman, expertly paced, with carefully crafted characters. I mean, they're not particularly deep characters, but I care about them and don't want to see them decapitated. This being Kirkman, of course, I'm waiting for that guillotine to arrive.

As predicted, I forgot a lot from volume four, so I was a bit thrown off by the alien homeworld and political battles taking place there. I also would have enjoyed more time in Oblivion with Nathan, and perhaps more time on Earth with those left behind. All told, this volume felt a tad rushed, but it still had plenty of pages dependent entirely on Lorenzo de Felici's art for storytelling. Kirkman is one of the few writers who can get away with leaning so heavily on his artists. I really appreciate it! Comics don't always need speech bubbles to tell me what's going on.

Anxiously awaiting the sixth volume! If it really is the last one, I'll probably have to read the whole series straight through to catch all the nuances I forget between volumes.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Individual issue reviews: #25 | #26 | #27 | #28 | #29 | #30

Total review score: 3.08

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
It has been three years since Nathan was left behind in Oblivion. During that time, 3 things have happened: 1) Nathan made friends and learned the language and culture of the rogue Ghozan. 2) Dakuul became the head of the Kuthaal army and finalized the tech to get back to the human world. 3) Ed keeps breaking protocol by going into Oblivion to look for his brother.
Nathan gets home just in time to warn of invasion, only to challenge Dakuul to ritual combat. As Dakuul begins to lose, he triggers his back up plan. Paris, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles all get swapped with Oblivion.
What will happen now? Seems like the next Volume might be the last...
Still a recommend... but feeling more and more like it would be better as one omnibus.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The faceless men have arrived and the war for earth has commenced!!

Oblivion song chapter 5 covers issues 25-30 the story is definitely on track it time jumps 3 years ahead with Nathan in oblivion working with a faceless men for a better future. Meanwhile on earth the pentagon is learning to understand the faceless men threat!!

This is a awesome series and I’m loving every minute of it!! The artwork is great and the story is exciting and staying very consistent! If you love comics check it out!!

Oh and that duel at the end! Ya I’m not going to spoil it!! But it was awesome!!!! 😃🤙🏻

[La Biblio Geek · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

[Terry Mcginnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome volume with lots of action and story progression!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three years pass and the humans don't do anything. The attacks are overwhelming but there is some resistance.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robert Kirkman is a fine writer. But titles like Oblivion Song are a real disappointment, because it just feels like it needed more time to marinate before it was ready. But why wait, when you’re churning out as many comics as possible in the hopes somebody might develop them for the screen and give them the depth and polish they lack on the page? I can’t begrudge Kirkman for using Skybound to develop so many screen properties. More power to him. But when his comics become little more than fancy studio pitches instead art to succeed on its original merits, there’s just not a lot to love here. Bad comics are sad. But halfhearted comics made by a genius are a real shame.

[The_Mad_Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oblivion Song Chapter Five picks up where three years after the events in Chapter Three and Chapter Four , with some brief occasional flashbacks. Nathan Cole has been stranded in Oblivion all this time, working with a Kuthaal named Gakaal and its offspring, Nanuul, in order to solve the problems with the Growth in Oblivion. Meanwhile, on Earth, the military has perhaps not been taking Nathan's lover, Heather, who has replaced Director Ward, quite seriously enough in her attempts to communicate the imminent dangers from the Kuthaal, and the possiblity of a Kuthaal invasion.

Making use of the narrative time leap, writer Rober Kirkman and artist Lorenzo de Felici make use of all the characters and narrative strands previously introduced, as they this extended narrative into its final third.

All in all, Oblivion Song Chapter Five follows suit and delivers another great instalment in this science fiction epic, and I cannot wait to see how the narrative ends in the next volume.

[Westley Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welp Kirkman you did it again.
At first the time skip was a little “hm really?” But once I understood why I was on board. The narrative is full fucking swing now. This entire chapter might be the most intense so far. Humanity is simply not prepared for a force of this scale and this power. Even if it’s trope-y I love how they had Nathan use Ghoazan training with Human tech to defeat Dakuul. Then of course that leads to our ‘Invincible’ moment. Shit like that last 3 pages is why I love kirkman as a writer so hard. It’s one thing to put characters through hardship for hardship sake but this isn’t that. This is just bittersweet reality right here. You solve one problem only to create another one. sometimes it’s not even your fault but all you can do is blame yourself. Damn man I’m so hype to see where this goes

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume takes place mostly three years later after Nathan was trapped in Oblivion when the US government essentially decided to end any more transferences. We learn more about the Faceless Men and their goals and their desperation given their world is becoming impossible for them to remain much longer.

After the major climax of the last Volume, this opens like a new story of the major chronicle. We've many answers of Oblivion, but now the goals of the Faceless Men and Earth are in conflict. The former are desperate and have superior technology and the humans have to learn how to counter them or how to negotiate while trying to find a long term solution.

Once again, it ends on a rather huge cliffhanger and there's no more copies in my local library. What'll I do until then?!?!

[Erin Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Kirkman is truly one of the best graphic novel writers that I have ever read. Oblivion Song is a phenomenal story. I really did not know what to expect after Nathan was trapped in Oblivion. I wonder where the story would go from this point. This volume opened with a three-year time jump. Nathan found a way to survive as he made it his mission to repair his belt. She ends up returning to the regular world define that obviously things have changed. Not too long after he managed to settle and even for a minute did the invasion occur. Considering what happened at the end of this volume, I’m looking forward to Nathan’s reaction to what he was “too late for”.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series could have easily wrapped up at book two. BUT Kirkman in particular and the comic book industry in general likes to draw things out. In book five the stretch gets to the point where you start to see the seams.
Of course, both the writer and the artist are working as hard as they can to distract you from it with all the bombastic action sequences, but the time skips are a mess and so is some of the character writing.
And also, it's crucial to mention that the art just isn't that good, so it can only distract so much. Nevertheless, it's all very dramatic, and one feels compelled to see it to the end. So, onto the last book.

This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/

[Will Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm actually a little disappointed after reading this one. There's a lot of time skips in this volume, which I'm not entirely opposed to, but a lot of significant events happen that could have been entire stories themselves! I would have loved to seen more the leads learning how to interact with the aliens and becoming allies. We get some of that with Nathan while he's trapped on Oblivion, but I would have loved to see more of his wife and family back home working with the few alien survivors who made it all the way to Earth. Missed potential, but still a good read. Onward to the finale!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm just writing a review for the whole thirty-something issue run of comics.

It's pretty great. As everyone knows, Kirkman is one helluva storyteller. It's not terrifically original, but the alien planet and races are well formed and thought out, and the art is left rough around the edges, just like 'The Walking Dead'.

Overall a nice, clever run of comics to read over a few days. Fans of Kirkman won't be disappointed, but at the same time it isn't a radical, genre-transcending series like The Dead is.

4/5.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oblivion Song, chapter 5 – Robert Kirkman
Great return to the series. The character arcs are excellent and compelling.
#25 – “It’s worse than I thought.”
#26 – “They’ve replicated your device.” “They’re planning an INVASION.”
#27 – “A head-to-head conflict would NOT go our way.”
#28 – “I am GHOZAN DAKUUL of the KUTHAAL. I am here to inform you that our invasion is IMMINENT.”
#29 – “By rite of the GHOZAN ORDER – I call for this contest to be settled by DUEL.” – Nathan
#30 – “But .. you’re TOO LATE.”
Plus Bonus Story: “This looks weird, but it’s Earth, I PROMISE.”

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confusing art which prioritises stylistic approach over actual storytelling. Barely a page goes by I don’t have to stop and try work out what the hell im looking at

Hard to tell characters apart, especially the aliens.

Doesn’t feel like Kirkman has much of a story to tell here, just spinning the wheels ambling through it, the problem being that with this series the characters are not interesting enough.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The penultimate volume of Oblivion Song ends on an incredibly dramatic moment but the lead up to that was a bit of a let down compared to the series as a whole. Kirkman jumps around in time some and I didn't love it or the choices around it. There are also some humorous elements brought in that seem misplaced. The book was still good but not at the level it has been. Some very good art again especially in last 20% of the book. Overall, another very solid read and the finale should be epic.

[Peter Derk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things heat up, and weird aliens are on the move?
Aliens? Are they aliens if they're from another dimension?
I guess we use "aliens" for people from another country, so, waitaminute, shouldn't aliens from another planet with totally different biology be like superaliens or something? And then interdimensional aliens are somewhere between aliens and superaliens, so they'd be...midaliens?

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if it is the fact that this volume jumps ahead, or that it has been a minute in-between reads from 4 to 5, but I did not love this. I still find the colour to be super dark when we are in the alien dimension. The story picked up for me near the end and I do plan to continue reading. Just meh for me.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm liking this more and more the farther I get in. Not sure what Kirkman was thinking, this would be a really expensive to make into a TV series or movie. Lots of CGI would be needed. The designs of the aliens and alien world are pretty cool, but could have been spectacular, unfortunately I can't stand the art, especially the humans. Looking forward to the big finale in Vol 6.

[Gene Gosewehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite in the series sos far in terms of action, consequences, planning, etc. but I am starting to get lost in the time/location swaps and remembering who is who. Probably need to reread each prior issue before the release of a new one.

[M.i. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kirkman has hit his stride with these books. The impending sense of doom has been sufficiently played up including an antagonist worth his weight in gold.

Most importantly, I like how the Alien world is depicted, including it’s own unique idiosyncrasies.