Jenny Sparks #5: The State Of The World

A lot of people turn to books, films, and music as a way of escape from their regular circumstances. This is often described as escapism and was kind of the norm for the comic book medium; however, some comic books are specifically aimed at discussing real world situations. It is the mix of escapism and realism that often makes a story work really well. For Superman, all of his power and might can be viewed as boring or uninteresting unless it is paired with the pathos behind the man. For Batman, the idea of an unimaginably wealthy man who acts as a vigilante in the night becomes somewhat relatable when the story revolves around how some choose to cope with their trauma. So comes Jenny Sparks #5, an issue of a comic book series that sees a seemingly immortal woman with electricity powers going neck-to-neck with a “god,” but then the real world drama starts to seep in.

Tom King is very outspoken about his political beliefs, something that has always felt apparent in his writing. King also was in the CIA after 9/11, a part of his life that also becomes a topic in many of his works. With Jenny Sparks, the plot has been very clear about the state of the world today, with the idea being that Jenny Sparks could not die at the end of the twenty-first century because 9/11 proved that the world was not entering a new era of peace and prosperity. With Jenny Sparks #5, the book opens with Jenny speaking to a man in a bar in 2016. The man starts speaking about how sure he and many people were that Hilary Clinton was going to win the Presidency and how shocked and heartbroken he was when she lost. This then turns into a conversation about how his daughter, at such a young age, experienced fear for the first time as she realized that Donald Trump would be the next President of the United States.

Now, King definitely did not know that Trump was going to win again in 2024; however, this sentiment and the fear in this young girl really made this book start with a bang, especially when the event is so recent and so relatable. As the issue continues, the time period transitions to today where Jenny is trying to find a way to defeat Captain Atom. This conversation harkens back to that idea of the fear of the unknown, and the way that those more powerful than us can attempt to do “good” but end up causing more harm. While this issue is light on action compared to the others, it definitely is the most poignant and thought provoking, solidifying the core concept and making for a very memorable read.

With it being light on action, Jenny Sparks #5 relies a lot on Jeff Spokes’ art to carry a lot of the emotional beats. Thankfully, Spokes does an excellent job with this, making this one of those books that perfectly marries the art and writing to create a somber, yet poignant experience. Jenny Sparks #5 feels like it reveals the most about who Jenny is as a person, even as it acts as a staging ground for the final two issues. Like a lot of King’s series, much of the events in the beginning are starting to become more clear as the end approaches, and with Jenny Sparks #5, it is clear that the end is going to really shake up this world in a way that furthers the ongoing discussion of the state of the world today.