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The Bunker #5

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    Nolando
    Senior Member

  • The Bunker #5


    Published by: Oni Press
    Released on: Aug. 6, 2014


    The future, the present and characters intersecting with both, seemingly unable to fight the coming calamity and their role in the destruction of the Earth. How will these five people change fate when one of their future-number is there, still pulling their strings?

    [SPOILERS]

    In the future, President Grady is clearly excited about Natasha's discovery/creation, something he says is finally going to save the world. However, in the present, future-Grady has come face to face with present-Grady and the latter's having a very hard time comprehending all this. In fact, he's still reeling from the bomb attack earlier in the day that he knew was coming and yet did nothing to stop, thus setting him up to become that future-Grady.

    The entire group of Billy, Grady, Natasha, Daniel and Heidi has gathered again to try and make sense of what's happening. But future-Grady has barged in, used to (by that time) having his way taken as law. Here, though, he's mostly starving and wants to order Thai food since, in the future, the cause for all their problems is the global pandemic around GMO's wiping out the world's food supply. But he finally sits down, willing to play 20 Questions with them all. Present-Grady runs out the front door, unable to cope, while Billy goes after him.

    Back to the future and Grady has called Natasha, who's none too pleased to see him. But, he explains, they have Billy in custody and will soon have the others so he's got a little proposition for her… Back in the present and Billy catches up to present-Grady who's lamenting what he's done that day and, now, seeing the future self, knows that version of himself has probably let millions die. He's understandably having a hard time accepting this reality about his own potential. But Billy talks him down and the two go to get that Thai food…

    Which they then bring back to the apartment where everyone else is waiting to begin questioning future-Grady. After eating and a moment's odd peace, future-Grady begins explaining what happens: The Earth has finite resources and overpopulation is putting humanity on a collision course. So, with their time on the planet drawing short, it's future-Daniel that future-Grady has rush a GMO-like product to market to try and save everyone. He speaks to the inevitability of it all, that Daniel's “frankenfoods” are susceptible to a virus that is what ultimately kills off a huge portion of humanity and the world's food supply.

    But Heidi believes the letters they received from their future-selves offers a chance, a second chance to fix things before they break. They're also aware of the monster Grady becomes, though, and are highly suspect of his motives for being here in the present, from the future, again. He tells them that they need to decide what to do and let him know. With that, he leaves the apartment, saying that he can't save the world alone but will if he has to. Outside, then, someone picks him up and he gives them orders to get to L.A. by daybreak.

    Back in the apartment, the group have a frustrating (to them) conversation about what's happened and what, really, they can change. They know they don't know quantum mechanics enough to understand what they truly can do and it all ends in disappointment, with Heidi kicking everyone out of her apartment. Present-Grady says he'd appreciate being with them all right now, hoping they can forgive him, and off they all head.

    In the future, Grady has Natasha dragged before him, knowing that she's built a time machine. But when she accuses him of wanting to go back and screw with everything he says that's not what he's after - he wants both of them to go back… So, in the present, Natasha drives them to L.A., also carrying something cryptically referred to as “the device” that she says will “do its job.” Grady and Natasha then debate what they're doing, with Grady describing them as the “guiding hands” but Natasha's unsure if this has all already happened or isn't supposed to. Grady tells her without question, though, that they don't know that and, with the plan they have, they never will know…

    Joshua Hale Fialkov's story continues its delirious pace with a time-twisting plot that doesn't get bogged down in the quantum discussions, choosing instead to focus on fascinating character development. And it works stunningly well as this series draws toward its climax, carefully balancing future knowledge with present experience of the characters. Joe Infurnari's artwork is loose and beautiful, showing characters in a world that is very much in flux, deftly reflecting the themes of the story. Another fantastic entry in this outstanding series.
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