Alice Never After has done a lot to build on what Dan Panosian and Giorgio Spalletta did in their original series to delve deeper into the psyche of our title character. This exploration from both the real world and Wonderland settings has given us unique look into the typical Alice In Wonderland story. Now that we are at the final issue there is still a big question if Alice can finally get agency with her life? We got the chance to check out the final issue. Find out how Alice Never After #5 turns out with our advance review.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Dan Panosian
Artists: Dan Panosian, Giorgio Spalletta, and Cyril Glerum
Colorist: Francesco Segala and Gloria Martinelli
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
SOLICITATION
“In the long-awaited FINAL ISSUE, Alice desperately searches for an exit to the maze-salvation for herself and her child.
Even if she escapes Wonderland and makes it back home, will everyone greet her newly-cured self with open arms?” – BOOM! Studios
REVIEW
Alice gaining agency over her life has gone down a very long road. It has taken so many twists and turns that left Alice Never After #5 a lot to wrap up. To Dan Panosian and Giorgio Spalletta credit they take all the development they put into both the London and Wonderland setting to give us a properly balanced payoff.
The most impressive part of Alice Never After #5 is that no major player in either setting we have Alice in are left out. Even though this was Alice’s story her sister Edith and the rest of her family had an equal amount at stake. The same goes for the characters in Wonderland who all had their own parts to play in the narrative.
Because all these players being involved it made the chaos, with the Wonderland setting, feel appropriate to where this story has gone. The chaos being overwhelming is reflective of Alice’s own state of mind. The tone the characters take in both settings is reflective of how Alice acts in both worlds. In being unresponsive in the real world of London Edith and others take an approach that is more down to Earth. Which is different from how everyone talks over each other in Wonderland.
All of this made Alice’s own journey to gain agency over her life much more intriguing. Things were so overwhelming that you understood why Alice was who she was in both settings. This made the final thing that Alice must overcome to gain agency act as a good payoff to the journey over these five issues. It all leaves you in a place where you want to see the story continue in a new series.
The artwork was once again what was the standout of Alice Never After #5. At this point it is no surprise at how well Panosian, Spalletta, and Glerum have gotten at transitioning between the two settings. Everything is timed to enhance the direction of the story. Panosian emphasizes the grounded approach to dealing with where Alice is mentally that her family is dealing with. Meanwhile the more colorful approach by Spalletta and Glerum take gets over the chaos Alice is going through in Wonderland. Of which Francesco Segala and Gloria Martinelli deserve an equal amount of credit for the color palette they establish for both settings.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Alice Never After #5 is a thoughtful ending to the story Dan Panosian, Giorgio Spalletta, and company craft. The chaos created by all those around Alice in both London and Wonderland settings made the payoff in the finale to leave you hoping this isn’t the last of this story. If you didn’t check out the individual issues of this series make sure to pick up the collection when it’s released.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
