You Never Heard of Me Issue #5 Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

New powers, new friends, and ever-evolving visions make William, the young soothsayer protagonist of the comic-book series “You Never Heard of Me,” wish he were ordinary. But since that’s not possible, he fully embraces his supernatural abilities.

Issue #5 of “You Never Heard of Me,” by Iolanda Zanfardino and Eliza Romboli (art), begins with moody, dark panels, with William resolving that he is not going to give up on trying to change the futures of those he loves for the better. So this final chapter of the comic is all about friends, family, and making the best of the present.

The artwork and palette slowly keep shifting from grim tones to brighter panels, reflecting the evolution of William’s story through the pages. After brief dark moments of self-introspection, he has a serious heart-to-heart with his dad and once again plays Cupid for his busy-bee sister, after which he has his first fun sleepover with new friends Allie and Rory. And what about “Mission Save Rory from Dying”? You will have to read the series to find out.

This issue of “You Never Heard of Me” is less than 25 pages long; however, creators Iolanda Zanfardino and Eliza Romboli manage to tie all the loose ends in the story in this swift closing chapter. It feels all too surreal, but the plot emphasizes how focusing on little gestures of love, support, and kindness goes a long way in changing someone’s life. The focus isn’t on William’s seer-like powers, but on how simple human experiences can influence the course of someone’s journey.

Rory starts out as a lonely kid, bullied for being “different”; however, just by hanging out with him, Allie and William brighten up his days. The comic-book panels showing the friends having fun together are joyously drawn, and a whole page is just colorful Polaroid-like photos of the trio doing makeup and goofing around.

For a teen-fantasy comic, “You Never Heard of Me” is a fast-paced, beautifully drawn series that brings William’s story full circle. While the first chapter started with him sitting alone by the beach, worrying about high school, the story ends with him once again by the beach, but this time with his dad, happy and looking forward to the future. A stunning sunset in the background and glimpses of a happy horizon end the tale.

Rating: 4 stars on 5.

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