G-Men United #5 - G-Man Comics

G-MEN UNITED No. 5, November 2024

Financed through the crowdfunding platform “Kickstarter” to the tune of $5,033 back in August 2024, those 77 backers who pledged for Issue Five of “G-Men United” were probably almost overwhelmed by the quality of the various stories contained within this anthology comic book. In fact, many doubtless found it difficult to find anything to criticise when it comes to the forty-page periodical’s considerably-sized content, courtesy of some pulse-pounding penmanship by the likes of Rik Offenberger, Chris Squires, Jim Burrows, and Eric N. Bennett.

However if pushed, many a bibliophile may well point to the tome’s narrative concerning Agent Squires and Kid Terror as the 'cream of the crop', due to their paths intermingling with the short-lived plots of several of this publication’s adventures – starting with the wonderfully written “Generation Gap”, where the duo’s humour-filled banter with one another proves incredibly entertaining, and impressively also continues to progress this title’s ongoing storyline involving the fascist criminal mastermind, Rothlander; “This is music.? I thought you ran over a cat!”

Following on from this tongue-in-cheek tale is the much more serious “Temptation”, in which Offenberger manages to cleverly show the significant difference in morals between the aforementioned non-powered F.B.I. operative and the slightly shady protagonist Mateo Martinez. Featuring some awesome layouts by Samir Simao, which genuinely help emphasise the pair’s disparity, it soon becomes incredibly clear just why Squires was asked to mentor the late Jamal Rashed’s vengeance-obsessed son, as opposed to an overtly violent super-hero who debatably kids himself into thinking he can use the ‘good graces’ of his department’s arch-nemesis against him.

Lastly, this comic’s final yarn once again taps into the naïve jesting of the young, by depicting Kid Terror, All-American Kid and Pollita confronting the reasonably formidable Firebomb in Washington D.C. To be perfectly honest this is a pretty straightforward affair, where the adolescent trio are badly underestimated by their fiery foe. But despite such relative simplicity, Bennett’s script once again serves to show just how trustworthy Agent Squires is as a role model for the G-Men’s upcoming generation, as well as how proud the man can be of the kids' achievements when they skilfully apprehend their opponent using combined tactics and teamwork. Furthermore, who can’t love the ever-effervescent Mary Willams Tapia been dynamically drawn by Joshua 1:9 Holley excitedly shouting “Pio! Pio!” in every other panel..!?!

The regular cover art to "G-MEN UNITED" #5 by Dave Matsuoka