I had fully intended to write a decent SP Vol 5 review myself, but I found that Abhay Khosla at The Savage Critic already wrote what is probably the best review that you’ll find. And for once I decided to not explore my own journey into blog post mediocrity.
Abhay identifies the point in the series well by connecting it to minor cast member Young Neil. “He’s an asshole”. So are you”. “I’m young, I’ll grow out of it” is the essence of the book. Within the six volumes that will make up this series, this book is the asshole. It’s a bit of a downer as it’s a dark book but at the same time it’s such a gorgeous progression of the original story that there’s no way that it feels unnatural. This is the book where everyone wakes up and realizes they’re a older than they were. This is the act where things look bad. This is the act where you get both depressed and really excited about the upcoming conclusion to the series.
Scott Pilgrim is probably, long term, one of the biggest things to come out of this decade. While a movie is being made, this merit is purely deserved based on the fact that it was impossible to describe SP as being “like [insert book title here]” and in the years to come, we will (hopefully) see graphic novels that will be described as “like Scott Pilgrim”.
While “the art is like manga art” will be thrown around, it doesn’t quite cover it. Manga influenced, yes. Cartoony in places, but clearly “indie cartoonist” in other. Try labeling it; you’re wrong no matter what you do.
Scott Pilgrim is like Scott Pilgrim. Labeling will not bring you happyness, only sadness; read Vol 1 through 5 of an amazing series and receive both in a double whammy.