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Pearl III #5 and #6 ushers in the end of the third arc for Pearl Tanaka. The previous volume which consisted of the first two arcs ended in a way that could provide a satisfying ending for the series. But due to a good reaction by many and Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos wanting to continue with these characters, we got another arc. Now that it is over was it necessary?
Pearl III #5
The biggest takeaway from Pearl III #5 is Gaydos’ beautiful art as the majority of the story of this issue is either action or set up for the finale reveals. As with most of his other work, along with the previous volume of Pearl, Gaydos plays around with the form of his art. Each scene has a dominant style and colour to indicate its intention and emotion. Flashbacks from Pearl’s perspective are sketchy with only one dominant colour, showing the fading idealistic memories of a child. Meanwhile, flashbacks from other people’s perspectives are painted splash pages, intrinsically detailed, reflecting that this is relayed by people who read the events rather than experienced them.
Then, of course, the major fight scene resolves the cliffhanger from the previous issue. Pearl Tanaka, the Ghost Dragon of San Francisco, the inheritor of her mother’s great criminal empire, assassin, but really an artist dealing with familiar bonds and trauma. Nakai, the famed Yakuza assassin that always gets his target and is the one that finally put Mr. Miike, the main antagonist of previous arcs, out of his misery. These are two deadly people who go toe to toe, they are masters of the dance of the dead, so how do you convey that? Michael Gaydos decides to convey this through cold and methodical movements.
The casualness with which Pearl comes from behind and cuts off Nakai’s hand. The way he quickly reacts and then the double page spread filled with multiple images as these two assassins face off on the rooftop. Gaydos’ style in Pearl especially is a combination of the abstract and the real. Photo references, strong thick black outlines, and dominant primary colours. So the way this fight is staged allows it to pop from the rest — amazing work, very fitting for a series about an artist.
Pearl III #6
As I pointed out in the previous issues of this volume, the arc is about focusing on the legacy of fathers. The first arc was about Pearl’s mother and her legacy, the second arc is about Pearl finding her way through charting her own legacy, and finally, we have come to her father. And with that comes the inevitable that Bendis has been hinting at since the very first issue of the first arc. Pearl III #6 reveals that Pearl’s mom was killed by Pearl’s dad. But it’s all a cycle, kids following in the footsteps of their parents. Peral’s mom killed her own father, taking his place. Pearl took her mom’s place and now all that remains is to kill her dad to perpetuate the cycle.
The way this scene is built up too is beautiful. In the very first issue of the first volume, we had a flashback to Pearl’s dad giving her a gun, telling her that she needs to stay vigilant and be careful. Now that same gun has been used to kill her dad, the man that gave it to her. It’s short and sudden, built up to via the curse of growing up. Pearl is her mom, metaphorically speaking of course. And so with the innocent sound effect “Pop,” she does become her mother fully, killing her dad. And her dad even said she looked exactly like her mom.
All three arcs of Pearl have been about living in the shadow of legacy. The old adage is that children must kill their parents to grow out of that shadow. These words of wisdom are merely a metaphor, but Pearl III #6 makes it literal. Just like the first arc had a scene where Pearl shot the images of all those who held her back, she has now done so for real. The child has become the parent, is that really out of the shadow?
Pearl III #5 and #6 Brings This Volume To A Close
There is obvious sequel bait with the bit at the end with the FBI and the aftershocks of the previous issues. Whether we return or not to Pearl, Rick, and the Endo Twins is up to Bendis and Gaydos. I have quite liked this series and I think it now seems more whole than it did at the end of the first volume. The story of Pearl has completed the circle. There doesn’t need to be more.