Review: MIND MGMT Vol. 6- The Immortals

Quick Summary

Pros: The first half is emotional and helps build tension for the second half. The finale is epic and highlights some of this comic’s best attributes. The epilogue is sure to satisfy most readers.

Cons: One of the earlier chapters is a bit boring.

Overall: The conclusion to the MIND MGMT series is every bit as entertaining as fans could want it to be. Here, five volumes of setup coalesce to deliver a unique and satisfactory experience. It has thrills, emotion, and a conclusion that feels completely natural to the narrative. Fans of the series are sure to find a lot to love in this final volume.

Story

MIND MGMT Vol. 6: The Immortals, by Matt Kindt, is an excellent conclusion to the MIND MGMT series that manages to succeed in nearly every area. It dedicates its first half to tying up loose ends and building tension for the finale. Then, when the finale arrives, it brings together some fantastic elements from the comic’s history in a way that generates both suspense and satisfaction. The conclusion also leaves the narrative in a way that feels true to the spirit of the book, enhancing rather than cheapening the experience. Overall, this is a very worthwhile conclusion.

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The first half of The Immortals primarily concerns itself with tying up loose ends and addressing lingering concerns. Lyme cures the people of Flight 815, Maru reconnects with her parents, and Perrier and Duncan enter a relationship. These stories remind readers that the characters here are still people and that their time as secret agents has not dissolved their humanity. These stories also help build the tension as the volume makes its way into the endgame, where the lives of everyone hang in jeopardy.

The only problem in this portion of the book is that Perrier and Duncan’s adventure feels like a rehash of previous stories. Their fruitless attempt to recruit agents is too similar to the last volume, enough so that it is a bit boring. Their new romance helps keep things interesting but only manages to make this portion of the book passable.

However, the absolute best part about The Immortals is its thrilling conclusion. In the final few chapters, Matt Kindt incorporates multiple elements from earlier portions of the series. Seeing the Zookeeper physically return and Bill spiritually return are great moments and satisfying callbacks for fans who have read the series from the beginning. Plus, Maru’s showdown with the Eraser is simultaneously a thrilling fight sequence and an impressive display of the mental tactics that Kindt has showcased throughout this entire series.

This conclusion also ends things on a cautiously optimistic note that feels like the perfect way to wrap up MIND MGMT. It allows the good guys to win and for the world to move forward into the future. However, it is not so much of a feel good ending that it betrays the comic’s otherwise serious nature. Instead, a pleasing compromise is achieved that feels good to see but also leaves an aura of uncertainty in the air.

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Art

The climactic conclusion to the MIND MGMT series contains some of the comic’s best artwork. Here, Matt Kindt delivers a number of great looking splash pages, which have a large impact on the volume’s finale. Plus, the entire book features plenty of creativity and well-structured layouts, which helps the visual appeal. There are still moments where the art is specifically lacking and characters are hard to distinguish but, overall, this is a the best looking volume so far.

Continuity

MIND MGMT Vol. 6: The Immortals continues the story from MIND MGMT Vol. 5: The Eraser (Review).

The MIND MGMT series ends with this volume and, as of now, does not continue anywhere.