Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem is the last two volumes in the Magnum Opus by Mark Millar. The issue is written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Matthew Dow Smith.
It follows the children as adults, along with the surviving adults from the original run. Mild spoilers for issues 1 to 4 may follow, but there won’t be any spoilers for Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem #5.
Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem #5 opens up with the aftermath of the previous issue. For the first time in Requiem, all of the superpowered Hutchinsons are in the same room. The scene that plays out is quiet and gives insight into a part of their lives we don’t usually see with superheroes.
This is something Mark Millar always does well. His creator-owned comics delve into the characters’ lives, showcasing the quieter moments in their lives, rather than always focusing on the flashy fights like most superhero comic books tend to do.
In fact, this is something issue 5 does really well. It comes across as a calm before the storm chapter. By the time I finished, I had to go back and re-read certain parts to make sure I didn’t imagine them.
Lady Liberty’s story with the Paloraxian’s continues too as we see more of why they need her help. Meanwhile, Prince Caius is getting himself into more trouble. However, in typical Mark Millar fashion, nothing falls into a commonplace trope.
As Jupiter’s Legacy: Requiem gears up for the finale of volume 5, this issue will make you want to read the finale straight away.
Of course, I can’t review this issue, or even the book as a whole, without talking about the majestic art. Matthew Dow Smith’s illustrations bring the larger than live sequences to life. His realistic facial expressions complement the writing to the point it increases the reader’s connection with the characters.
There’s one particular page I love because of its simplicity. Because it’s about two characters, the background for them is just white. The white then feeds into the busy panels below.
It only serves to emphasise the beauty of the moment at the top of the page. Unlike other mediums, it doesn’t matter how good the writing is if the art isn’t on its level.
However, I can say without a doubt, the writing and art are in complete synergy. Jupiter Legacy: Requiem #5 is everything you can ask from a penultimate chapter in a volume.
