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Life is Strange Comics #5
Life is Strange Vol. 5: Coming Home
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!
Still stranded in another, parallel timeline, Max searches for a way to finally return to her world and to her sorely missed Chloe. On an adventurous road trip, with old and new friends, surprising possibilities open up. Meanwhile, Tristan finds himself in Max's original reality, and the walls between realities seem to be thinning...
Continuing the award-winning video game Life is Strange, the critically acclaimed comics continue the award-winning video game Life is Strange with new stories centered around these all-time favorite characters, as insightful as they are gripping written by Emma Vieceli and beautifully drawn by Claudia Leonardi.
Collects issues #17-20 of the hit Life is Strange comic series, set after the events of the BAFTA-winning video game series!
Still stranded in another, parallel timeline, Max searches for a way to finally return to her world and to her sorely missed Chloe. On an adventurous road trip, with old and new friends, surprising possibilities open up. Meanwhile, Tristan finds himself in Max's original reality, and the walls between realities seem to be thinning...
Continuing the award-winning video game Life is Strange, the critically acclaimed comics continue the award-winning video game Life is Strange with new stories centered around these all-time favorite characters, as insightful as they are gripping written by Emma Vieceli and beautifully drawn by Claudia Leonardi.
Collects issues #17-20 of the hit Life is Strange comic series, set after the events of the BAFTA-winning video game series!
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2021
About the author
Emma Vieceli
171 books320 followersEmma 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
April 3, 2026
'Cause when you lay your head at night / You think of me, cry yourself to sleep / How does it feel to lose everything? / The thought of it… is makin' you sick (Outta Luck – Kiana Ledé).
I hope they keep making Life is Strange games. I know it's a super popular series and getting a show somewhere down the line (I'm from the future like Max to tell you that it'll be bad) and it's published by the very big company Square Enix (that’s actually what worries me a little bit), but it’s hard not to feel like there’s less and less room for video games that aren’t either “free”-to-play shooters with a million deceptive gambling hooks or those massively bloated open world games. You know, the future doesn't seem to have room for the kinds of games that let you take a break from the emotional torment of playing competitive Overwatch and switch to experiencing the emotional turmoil of Max Caulfield! Hey, if someone's going to be going through it, I'd rather it be her! No but really, I think there’s a lot to lose if the video game medium stops striving for more diversity in the landscape, and even though Life is Strange certainly has its own fair share of criticism regarding its perceived performative portrayals and momentary dips into Orange is the New Black levels of writing room diversity, it's still something! And when you look at the competition? Man, these games look like an oasis in the desert sea of Battle Royale game after Battle Royale game! And not to get on some Male Dominated Field™, Felicia Day type of video game analysis and criticism, but damn does the gamer population make it incredibly embarrassing for a guy to admit that he enjoys the hobby! There’s just a really creepy incel energy radiating from far too many gamer spaces, and whenever I’m talking about my interests, I usually just stick with mentioning books or movies. Er, just don't ask me about what kinds of books I read! I mean, you’ve got the most popular Streamers in the world all screaming in voice chat, “did a female just try to tell me how to play the game” at the top of their lungs the second they realize a woman’s voice on the other end! Or take a look at XQC, a man who's bilingual in both Simlish and Klingon, doesn't know what condensation is, and got his start yelling at women who played as Mercy in Overwatch and would scream at them when they didn’t pocket him for the entirety of the match. Noticing a pattern here? A whole lot of rage! I’m just mentioning all this because I know the Life is Strange series gets a lot of flak from a lot of these same dudes for being considered “girl games” similar to how Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, or Story of Seasons all get the same descriptor… and I guess by that metric you'd say I’m one of the girlies seeing as I’m someone who loves all those games! Look, I know I’m always saying this, but I just think it’s so~oo odd how gamers are always talking about how they want their medium to be taken seriously as a true art form à la film or music, but then, without fail, crash out the second they see people of color or queer folk or women just existing in a video game story. Seriously, it’d be sad if it weren’t so pathetic.
And these guys think they're clever because they usually don’t use plain language to express their bigotry because despite all the effort these "anti cancel culture" chodes put into their nonchalant attitude, all claiming they don't care about what other people think of them, even bigots don't like being called bigots because being a bigot is objectively a bad trait. Ever notice how racists don't like being called racist despite their obvious racism? But yeah, instead of some loser ass Louis C.K. "I say what I mean" bullshit, you'll often hear criticism towards the push for diversity in games saying stuff like, “it's not historically accurate”, “it's too political”, or their absolute favorite… “it's cringe”! In fact, before I even played my first Life is Strange game, I was fully preparing myself for some vintage hipster, Twenty One Pilots cringe every couple of minutes where everyone talks like that one King Princess tweet, “Hope y’all are getting real horny for my record cuz I spent all morning listening to some final ass mixes and honey this record is a thicc queen. I can’t wait to give it to ya.”, but instead I found a game that wasn’t just a wonderful story with fantastic acting and beautiful graphics, but also a much needed breath of fresh air against the backdrop of all these samey video games. Besides, hipsters being gay in Oregon and saying corny stuff to each other isn't true cringe, it could always be worse! Just ask Ginny and Georgia. And if nothing else, the entire reason why I got more intensely into reading in the first place was because literature offers stories that will never be featured in a video game simply because gamers are a boring audience who proudly turn their nose at the prospect of expanding their horizons. They're too busy rioting at the sight of a woman! So yeah, imagine my shock at finding a game that was so easily transferred into other artistic mediums due to it falling back on the strengths of classic story telling techniques like character arcs and strong dialogue over worrying about up-scaling or ray tracing or whatever the hell else those video game reviewers are always going on about in their “specs” section of the YouTube video. Is it a good story? It is? Okay then, I'm seated. And sometimes even that’s not enough when it comes to video games! They aren't like books where you open it one day and eventually it'll close another, video games require much more personal input from the player, and while this immersion is part of the appeal, all getting lost in another world Ready Player One style, I’d much rather experience a good story that ends. With that last part being key! Because the thing is, with games you have to consider more than just whether or not everything comes together in a cohesive narrative. And in that regard, I’ve found that even games with fantastic stories like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Cyberpunk 2077, have a strange disconnect between the main story and the game-play.
“But I’m… not who I was then. I’m not alone. And I’m not running from myself, or from what I want. I’m ready to face a storm and win.”
Red Dead Redemption 2 follows a band of Jessie James-like robbers on the run from the law as they slowly realize that the Wild, Wild West is rapidly becoming less and less wild, and while the story is handled with a mature patience and empathy unusual to Rockstar Games (they're usually too busy making dick jokes), there’s still an odd feeling in how you can just go off and do whatever you want (fishing or hunting) removed from the sense of urgency of the main plot. Can you imagine reading a mystery book where the plot just halts in the middle of the story so the main character can just do fuck-all? Oh wait, that’s how A Study in Scarlet is structured, never mind! Or how about Cyberpunk 2077? The player character, V, is slowly having their conciseness being overrun by Keanu Reeves, and yet outside of certain checkpoints, you’re able to walk around Night City doing whatever you want for as long as you want. I’m just saying, the story for open world games should reflect the game-play loop of the game, and if the story is one of hectic urgency, then I’m always going to want to rush through the story despite the fact that I’d be cutting the content offered up by the game in half. I guess that’s why Life is Strange resonates so deeply with me, because each game takes place over a very short period of time (usually a couple days like Dan in Real Life) and the game always steers you towards the next goal. There are moments of reprieve, but sooner than later, you can feel time running out because, hey... it is! You can’t go off and have Max do a bunch of random ass side quests around town, and despite the scenic graphics, cringe dialogue, and “cozy vibes” that Life is Strange has going for it, the writers still understood the core tenants of a good story in that if there’s a world-ending catastrophe that we have to stop, then the narrative has to remind us to get a move on. Majora’s Mask had that big ass moon threatening to crash into the world at a moment’s notice, and Life is Strange will always have some sort of storm looming over the horizon. In fact, if I had any nitpick towards this comic, it’s that it spans too large a swath of time! And look, I know a couple years isn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things, it’s not like we’re watching Benjamin Button here, but I’m so used to spending a weekend’s length of time with these characters that it’s a little weird to be around them for this long. Besides, my favorite stories always follow a very short Before Sunrise transformative moment in a person's life, so I thought it would have been cool had this comic followed more closely to the structure of the games in which it’s based off of. Well… that being said, the games only ever have us catching up with Max on the worst weeks of her life, so despite this comic still being a harrowing experience for her, you could see Coming Home and the rest of the volumes in this series as somewhat of a reprieve from the heightened traumatic events of the games.
Anyway, I don’t know how this became a discussion on my opinions of video games, but you know… Life is Strange is a video game series first and foremost, so maybe that excuses my baseless rant? So yeah, we’re arriving at the end of this comic series and I’ve got to say... I’m a little sad because there aren’t many books where I can use break-up lyrics! It turns out that "resentment" is a recurring theme in a lot of the music I listen to. Oh wait, this wasn’t what I wanted to say, what I was going to say was that I’m a little sad because I’m running out of Life is Strange stuff to experience. And even though all the multiverse stuff that this comic is exploring is confusing me something awful, I’m still really enjoying it. You know the deal, "the art is gorgeous" and yada yada. I’ve only known these characters for a couple months now, and yet I’m not ready to let them go! Though, I will say that I sometimes feel like Coming Home missed the mark in using the multiverse stuff to explore the relationship between Rachel, Max, and Chloe in a more hard-hitting way. I know everybody hates love-triangle sub-plots, but I feel like a blowout argument between these characters was desperately needed to air out some lingering resentments. Max already has that withdrawn wallflower personality thing going for her, but I think a way of showing character growth would have been her working through some kind of repressed anger towards alternate Rachel and Chloe. Because there’s got to be some jealously going on there, right? Rachel Amber died in her world, and because nobody can match up to the way dead people are built up, I think it would have been interesting if Max had to wrestle with the guilt of having constant negative emotions towards the one girl who didn’t have a fair shot in Max's reality. It's wrong, but surely Max would feel some type of way about waking up in a reality where her girlfriend is now hooking up with some chick who walks around like the girl from Ipanema. Besides, there are already heavy comparisons between the two characters, as the first Life is Strange game has Max end up wearing some of Rachel’s old clothes, with the implication being that she’s trying to be someone she’s not in order to impress Chloe and still not quite believing she's able to live up to the legend of Rachel Amber. So, while I still believe that Rachel is more a narrative device than a character (in this story and the game's story), this comic could have done something interesting in having her and Max directly parallel each other while also doubling as each other’s greatest narrative foil in the same way Reunion has Safi and Chloe mirror each other. Nonetheless, as always, I'm feeling hella good because I enjoyed Coming Home the same as all the others. And even though it didn't quite match the emotional punch I was imagining in my head, I can appreciate the story it is interested in telling and the way it gives consideration people who slip through the cracks.
That when you wake up from your dreams / She isn't me, no one competes / Something that you couldn't keep / I fell out of love, you’re shit outta luck.
I hope they keep making Life is Strange games. I know it's a super popular series and getting a show somewhere down the line (I'm from the future like Max to tell you that it'll be bad) and it's published by the very big company Square Enix (that’s actually what worries me a little bit), but it’s hard not to feel like there’s less and less room for video games that aren’t either “free”-to-play shooters with a million deceptive gambling hooks or those massively bloated open world games. You know, the future doesn't seem to have room for the kinds of games that let you take a break from the emotional torment of playing competitive Overwatch and switch to experiencing the emotional turmoil of Max Caulfield! Hey, if someone's going to be going through it, I'd rather it be her! No but really, I think there’s a lot to lose if the video game medium stops striving for more diversity in the landscape, and even though Life is Strange certainly has its own fair share of criticism regarding its perceived performative portrayals and momentary dips into Orange is the New Black levels of writing room diversity, it's still something! And when you look at the competition? Man, these games look like an oasis in the desert sea of Battle Royale game after Battle Royale game! And not to get on some Male Dominated Field™, Felicia Day type of video game analysis and criticism, but damn does the gamer population make it incredibly embarrassing for a guy to admit that he enjoys the hobby! There’s just a really creepy incel energy radiating from far too many gamer spaces, and whenever I’m talking about my interests, I usually just stick with mentioning books or movies. Er, just don't ask me about what kinds of books I read! I mean, you’ve got the most popular Streamers in the world all screaming in voice chat, “did a female just try to tell me how to play the game” at the top of their lungs the second they realize a woman’s voice on the other end! Or take a look at XQC, a man who's bilingual in both Simlish and Klingon, doesn't know what condensation is, and got his start yelling at women who played as Mercy in Overwatch and would scream at them when they didn’t pocket him for the entirety of the match. Noticing a pattern here? A whole lot of rage! I’m just mentioning all this because I know the Life is Strange series gets a lot of flak from a lot of these same dudes for being considered “girl games” similar to how Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, or Story of Seasons all get the same descriptor… and I guess by that metric you'd say I’m one of the girlies seeing as I’m someone who loves all those games! Look, I know I’m always saying this, but I just think it’s so~oo odd how gamers are always talking about how they want their medium to be taken seriously as a true art form à la film or music, but then, without fail, crash out the second they see people of color or queer folk or women just existing in a video game story. Seriously, it’d be sad if it weren’t so pathetic.
And these guys think they're clever because they usually don’t use plain language to express their bigotry because despite all the effort these "anti cancel culture" chodes put into their nonchalant attitude, all claiming they don't care about what other people think of them, even bigots don't like being called bigots because being a bigot is objectively a bad trait. Ever notice how racists don't like being called racist despite their obvious racism? But yeah, instead of some loser ass Louis C.K. "I say what I mean" bullshit, you'll often hear criticism towards the push for diversity in games saying stuff like, “it's not historically accurate”, “it's too political”, or their absolute favorite… “it's cringe”! In fact, before I even played my first Life is Strange game, I was fully preparing myself for some vintage hipster, Twenty One Pilots cringe every couple of minutes where everyone talks like that one King Princess tweet, “Hope y’all are getting real horny for my record cuz I spent all morning listening to some final ass mixes and honey this record is a thicc queen. I can’t wait to give it to ya.”, but instead I found a game that wasn’t just a wonderful story with fantastic acting and beautiful graphics, but also a much needed breath of fresh air against the backdrop of all these samey video games. Besides, hipsters being gay in Oregon and saying corny stuff to each other isn't true cringe, it could always be worse! Just ask Ginny and Georgia. And if nothing else, the entire reason why I got more intensely into reading in the first place was because literature offers stories that will never be featured in a video game simply because gamers are a boring audience who proudly turn their nose at the prospect of expanding their horizons. They're too busy rioting at the sight of a woman! So yeah, imagine my shock at finding a game that was so easily transferred into other artistic mediums due to it falling back on the strengths of classic story telling techniques like character arcs and strong dialogue over worrying about up-scaling or ray tracing or whatever the hell else those video game reviewers are always going on about in their “specs” section of the YouTube video. Is it a good story? It is? Okay then, I'm seated. And sometimes even that’s not enough when it comes to video games! They aren't like books where you open it one day and eventually it'll close another, video games require much more personal input from the player, and while this immersion is part of the appeal, all getting lost in another world Ready Player One style, I’d much rather experience a good story that ends. With that last part being key! Because the thing is, with games you have to consider more than just whether or not everything comes together in a cohesive narrative. And in that regard, I’ve found that even games with fantastic stories like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Cyberpunk 2077, have a strange disconnect between the main story and the game-play.
“But I’m… not who I was then. I’m not alone. And I’m not running from myself, or from what I want. I’m ready to face a storm and win.”
Red Dead Redemption 2 follows a band of Jessie James-like robbers on the run from the law as they slowly realize that the Wild, Wild West is rapidly becoming less and less wild, and while the story is handled with a mature patience and empathy unusual to Rockstar Games (they're usually too busy making dick jokes), there’s still an odd feeling in how you can just go off and do whatever you want (fishing or hunting) removed from the sense of urgency of the main plot. Can you imagine reading a mystery book where the plot just halts in the middle of the story so the main character can just do fuck-all? Oh wait, that’s how A Study in Scarlet is structured, never mind! Or how about Cyberpunk 2077? The player character, V, is slowly having their conciseness being overrun by Keanu Reeves, and yet outside of certain checkpoints, you’re able to walk around Night City doing whatever you want for as long as you want. I’m just saying, the story for open world games should reflect the game-play loop of the game, and if the story is one of hectic urgency, then I’m always going to want to rush through the story despite the fact that I’d be cutting the content offered up by the game in half. I guess that’s why Life is Strange resonates so deeply with me, because each game takes place over a very short period of time (usually a couple days like Dan in Real Life) and the game always steers you towards the next goal. There are moments of reprieve, but sooner than later, you can feel time running out because, hey... it is! You can’t go off and have Max do a bunch of random ass side quests around town, and despite the scenic graphics, cringe dialogue, and “cozy vibes” that Life is Strange has going for it, the writers still understood the core tenants of a good story in that if there’s a world-ending catastrophe that we have to stop, then the narrative has to remind us to get a move on. Majora’s Mask had that big ass moon threatening to crash into the world at a moment’s notice, and Life is Strange will always have some sort of storm looming over the horizon. In fact, if I had any nitpick towards this comic, it’s that it spans too large a swath of time! And look, I know a couple years isn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things, it’s not like we’re watching Benjamin Button here, but I’m so used to spending a weekend’s length of time with these characters that it’s a little weird to be around them for this long. Besides, my favorite stories always follow a very short Before Sunrise transformative moment in a person's life, so I thought it would have been cool had this comic followed more closely to the structure of the games in which it’s based off of. Well… that being said, the games only ever have us catching up with Max on the worst weeks of her life, so despite this comic still being a harrowing experience for her, you could see Coming Home and the rest of the volumes in this series as somewhat of a reprieve from the heightened traumatic events of the games.
Anyway, I don’t know how this became a discussion on my opinions of video games, but you know… Life is Strange is a video game series first and foremost, so maybe that excuses my baseless rant? So yeah, we’re arriving at the end of this comic series and I’ve got to say... I’m a little sad because there aren’t many books where I can use break-up lyrics! It turns out that "resentment" is a recurring theme in a lot of the music I listen to. Oh wait, this wasn’t what I wanted to say, what I was going to say was that I’m a little sad because I’m running out of Life is Strange stuff to experience. And even though all the multiverse stuff that this comic is exploring is confusing me something awful, I’m still really enjoying it. You know the deal, "the art is gorgeous" and yada yada. I’ve only known these characters for a couple months now, and yet I’m not ready to let them go! Though, I will say that I sometimes feel like Coming Home missed the mark in using the multiverse stuff to explore the relationship between Rachel, Max, and Chloe in a more hard-hitting way. I know everybody hates love-triangle sub-plots, but I feel like a blowout argument between these characters was desperately needed to air out some lingering resentments. Max already has that withdrawn wallflower personality thing going for her, but I think a way of showing character growth would have been her working through some kind of repressed anger towards alternate Rachel and Chloe. Because there’s got to be some jealously going on there, right? Rachel Amber died in her world, and because nobody can match up to the way dead people are built up, I think it would have been interesting if Max had to wrestle with the guilt of having constant negative emotions towards the one girl who didn’t have a fair shot in Max's reality. It's wrong, but surely Max would feel some type of way about waking up in a reality where her girlfriend is now hooking up with some chick who walks around like the girl from Ipanema. Besides, there are already heavy comparisons between the two characters, as the first Life is Strange game has Max end up wearing some of Rachel’s old clothes, with the implication being that she’s trying to be someone she’s not in order to impress Chloe and still not quite believing she's able to live up to the legend of Rachel Amber. So, while I still believe that Rachel is more a narrative device than a character (in this story and the game's story), this comic could have done something interesting in having her and Max directly parallel each other while also doubling as each other’s greatest narrative foil in the same way Reunion has Safi and Chloe mirror each other. Nonetheless, as always, I'm feeling hella good because I enjoyed Coming Home the same as all the others. And even though it didn't quite match the emotional punch I was imagining in my head, I can appreciate the story it is interested in telling and the way it gives consideration people who slip through the cracks.
That when you wake up from your dreams / She isn't me, no one competes / Something that you couldn't keep / I fell out of love, you’re shit outta luck.
December 28, 2022
*slaps cover* This thing can fit so many Lesbians in it
November 17, 2021
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.
There are more people with supernatural powers, but we don’t really understand what they are or how they work.
July 23, 2022
Mam ochotę przejść jeszcze raz life is strange lol
June 4, 2023
Here comes the nonsense. Can you smell it on the wind? Copouts and retcons are sneaking up on you. Arm yourselves, comrades.
April 22, 2024
Damn that cliffhanger!
December 12, 2023
steph steph steph steph steph steph steph
August 14, 2021
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!
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!
August 13, 2024
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 🫶
October 13, 2021
"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
Still love Claudia's art though
January 23, 2025
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.
December 23, 2021
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.
March 25, 2024
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.
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.
November 30, 2022
I've really loved this series and can't wait to read the final comic.
January 1, 2023
not related to anything in the graphic novel, but the cover is so pretty i love it
March 22, 2023
"You said this all started with a storm. Maybe it's supposed to end with one."
December 30, 2025
multiversal schizophrenia does not acost to the pain of acting as someone from *Denmark*
also having a banger cover
also having a banger cover
April 23, 2025
That got very real and I love the creators for that but that makes it really heavy, too.
Read
August 26, 2025Everybody get Gay!!!!!
August 31, 2022
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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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
For more reviews and cool content follow me on:
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August 28, 2022
Die Situation spitzt sich zu
Fazit: Alle Wege vereinen sich auf geschickte Weise - und Gamemaster Steph is back! Gesamt: 5/5
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 . 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
August 2, 2022
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.
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.
April 12, 2025
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 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.
February 20, 2024
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.
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.
December 7, 2024
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"
"It started with a storm. It will end with a storm"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
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!
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!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 27, 2022Las 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.
Quiero mucho a Chloe y Max, y estoy que me va a salir el corazón del pecho cuando por fin se encuentren de nuevo.
September 22, 2023
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.
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.
December 15, 2023
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.
Anyway, this is solid enough.
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