Welcome to a brand new edition of Parlay Points, the comic book review blog for the ODPH podcast.

For this entry, we're checking out the final issue of a great series on the ComiXology Originals line. CENSUS #5 by Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman, Sebastian Piriz, Bernardo Brice and Sarah Litt has been a great mix of humor and drama with a main character you can't help but root for. Heading into the final issue, everyone's favorite census taker was walking on thin ice. Let's see if it gave way during the conclusion, shall we?

CENSUS #5 - On Sale January 17th
Creative: Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman, Sebastián Piriz, Bernardo Brice and Sarah Litt
Credit: Comixology Originals

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Liam Malone simply can NOT catch a break. A down on his luck loser, Malone thinks he finally catches a break when he lands a job at the census bureau. Door-to-door counting? Sounds easy right? Wrong. The division Malone is hired for by Mr. Pictor is the supernatural one. Liam’s daily interactions are with demons, leprechauns, and shape shifters, etc. Since signing his name on the dotted line, Liam’s life has been anything but normal.

The only “bright” spot in Liam’s life has been Lilith, a demon whom he “got close with” on his first day on the job. Malone is drawing the attention of his boss with warnings of trouble with his actions not following the job guidelines. On some of these assignments, Liam has let his conscious be his guide with mixed results.

Most recently, his attempt to give ghosts of enslaved peoples closure to liberate them from their current location results in the hijacking of the 22nd annual African American Heritage Parade! Now, Liam has been arrested for his actions with Mr. Pictor fuming mad.

This issue opens up with Liam making fast friends in his holding cell. After a few hours, Liam is freed on bail by Lilith. At this moment, Liam professes his love for Lilith and before he gets an answer back, Mr. Pictor shows up thru a portal, initiating the consequences he warned Liam about if he didn’t stick to the job requirements.

Liam was told there would be “Hell t Pay” and he begins to find out first hand Mr. Pictor wasn’t kidding around. The story takes readers on a wild trip that slows down due to a run-in from Lilith with a possible solution. What kind of mess has Liam gotten himself in now? Is there a possibility for a happy ending for Liam and Lilith? What does Nu Metal have to do with all of this?

The finale takes readers into a deep look at Liam’s growth as a human being while not losing his down on his luck charm. The closing act presents a few new possibilities opening for Liam and company which is something for fans to wait and see play out. Solid conclusion for this volume.

Bernardin and Freeman gibe Liam Malone a fitting send-off in the final issue of this arc. Liam’s growth from walked on to walking tall has been a fun journey to witness. The writing has been well-timed comedy which off set the crazy situations Liam finds himself in. The relationship with Lilith has been a strong point of this series. It’s arguably the most “normal” part of this book but grounds the story enough for readers to become connected to the characters. This issue exemplifies that point. Seeing how the resolution to Liam’s dilemma shapes up for the future made for a fitting closing … for now.

Piriz brings out a great deal of Liam’s charm with the visuals in this issue. From the early moments in jail where he’s talking about his problems, the mood is light-hearten and balances out the drama with his feelings towards Lilith. However, it will be the problem with Mr. Pictor’s punishment that makes the strongest impact with the art. There’s a great full page panel that brings up certain time periods of Liam which sets the pace for this direction of the story. Factor this in with the final closing moments for a few key players and readers will have some enjoyable parting images to witness on the way to the finish.

FINAL POINT: Census #5 bids a proper goodbye to Liam Malone and his quirky work-life balance with a delightful finale. Bernardin, Freeman, Piriz and the team pack the humor with the drama to continue the winning format of this series right to the final page. Don’t finish your NCBD pulls without making a stop to Comixology for this one!

Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know what you thought of Census #5. Thanks for reading.

CENSUS #5 (COMIXOLOGY ORIGINALS)

Ken M