REVIEW: 'Hitomi' #5 by H.S. Tak, Isabella Mazzanti, and Valentina Napolitano

 

HITOMI #5

Writer: H.S. Tak

Artist: Isabella Mazzanti, Valentina Napolitano

Layouts: Nicoletta Bea

Letters: Rob Jones

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: April 19, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99

MINISERIES FINALE

Trapped inside Takimoto's labyrinth and fighting to survive, Hitomi must confront Yasuke and their shared past if either is to have any hope of a future. Hitomi's journey concludes in this heart-pounding final issue of the series Monkeys Fighting Robots called "one of the best debuts of 2022."

Score:

★★★★★ (5/5)

 'Hitomi' by H.S. Tak, Isabella Mazzanti, and Valentina Napolitano has been a complete joy to read, and sadly issue five marks the end of the miniseries. In the genre of stories where a veteran professional takes on a gifted but wily mentee. 'Hitomi' embraces those tropes while also adding some refreshing new wrinkles. Here, Tak features the legendary Yasuke, a man of African origin who served as a retainer and weapon-bearer to a Japanese daimyō, as the older samurai who trains and protects the young and headstrong Hitomi. Now, after parting ways, Hitomi has joined the military and is poised to attempt an assassination on Takimoto unless Yasuke can stop her in time. 

From 'Lone Wolf and Cub' to 'The Mandalorian,' audiences can't get enough of these kinds of stories and when they're well executed it's not hard to see why. Yasuke is not a historical figure that gets enough attention. His inclusion adds something unique to the story addressing the racial bigotry of the time and the struggles he endured but overcame to be a formidable samurai. The relationship between Yasuke and Hitomi was certainly a conflicted one. The ever-patient mentor was tested by the aggressively petulant prodigy who in this case, believed killed her family years ago. And because of this holds on to this grudge throughout and never fully becomes a grateful apprentice. She keeps her edge and it has served her well. 

With issue five now complete and as a whole, 'Hitomi' makes for a fantastic trade paperback buy when it becomes available. The action-packed finale is satisfying with some surprising character turns along the way. It leaves open the door for more adventures and readers should demand more. Isabella Mazzanti and Valentina Napolitano have consistently provided some remarkable art that takes readers to feudal Japan with period-appropriate designs in architecture and costuming. The fight scenes are well-choreographed and while quite bloody aren't gratuitous. Seeing Hitomi and Yasuke work in tandem demonstrates the chemistry that is the glue of this series. The creative team deftly alternated between flashbacks and the present-day with ease providing more emotional heft to the motivations of the characters. 

'Hitomi' triumphantly concludes with a violent and emotional ending that brings the characters full circle. Hitomi and Yasuke are both tested to the limit and show their mettle through a gauntlet of assassins. This has been a favorite title over its run making it a must-buy now and absolutely when it's collected in a trade.