REVIEW: 'The Good Asian' #5 by Pornsak Pichetshote, Alexandre Tefenkgi, and Lee Loughridge

 

THE GOOD ASIAN #5

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote

Artist: Alexandre Tefenkgi, Lee Loughridge

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: September 29, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

NEW STORY ARC

Suffering a traumatic loss, Edison Hark relives the pivotal and contentious moments that led a Chinese-American to become a cop in 1930s America, as the "secret origin of Edison Hark" is revealed.

Score:

★★★★1/2 (4.5/5)

After an extraordinary first arc with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, 'The Good Asian' #5 begins a new volume of intrigue, mystery, and drama. What it doesn't do is pick up where the last issue ended. So we only get a taste of what happened after Frankie's attack. The first volume arrives today as well as issue five so if you haven't read it or want to cherish an entire volume of one of the year's best comics then grab a copy. 

Before 'The Good Asian' can take a step forward it takes a step back to Edison Hark's early days in Hawaii to reveal how and why he became a detective. His relationship with Victoria is also examined. Pornsak Pichetshote shows again why he's an exceptional writer because for other comics, a flashback issue would seem like a convenient break in the midst of a dramatic turn as we saw in issue four. Instead, great storytelling and art by Alexandre Tefenkgi and Lee Loughridge maintain the series as riveting as ever. 

This is Edison's origin story growing up with his mom and then with the Carroways. His time spent with the Carroway children and how close he became to Victoria. Pichetshote makes a great YA author as well as it turns out. Young love and heartbreak is just as enthralling as crime fiction and because we know Edison as an adult, these relationships helped forge him for better or worse. This glimpse into his past helps to explain the rocky relationship he has with Victoria now. 

As usual, Tefenkgi and Loughridge create a colorful and well-designed layout that sets the pace and tone for the story. Something as linear as a montage of Edison growing up can be a little static. What the artists do here is both dynamic and engaging. There are flashbacks within a flashback sharing a page at times and are color-coded to differentiate them from one another. It all transitions to a sobering and dark scene in the present. The artists take you on a journey aside removed from the dialogue and captions to form a lyrical visual narrative. 

'The Good Asian' continues to be a must-read into its second arc. Even when the main story takes a break to expand on Edison's upbringing, there's no lack of intrigue or drama. It's all wonderfully told in tandem with captivating visuals. One of the year's best comics doesn't miss a beat as Edison's troubles escalate.