Samurai Jack #5

The first arc of the new Samurai Jack comic comes to a close as Samurai Jack ventures into Aku's fortress to find the final remaining Tread of Time and come within a breath of fulfilling his destiny and making it home.

Other than to collect the arc in a graphic novel there's no real reason to end the storyline so quickly as Jack's quest to collect the various threads could have continued for quite some time. For better or worse the storyline is shortened, through montages in each of the last few issues, and Jack's quest to reconstitute the Rope of Eons comes to an end.

Samurai Jack #5 offers fans the first real look at the evil that is Aku in the new comic series and a battle between the monster and our hero that leaves Samurai Jack near death. Mortally wounded, out hero has to use the chrono magic in the threads to save his life rather than return home meaning his never-ending quest against Aku will continue (for hopefully many, many more issues). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]