Royals #5 — Derek Kirk Kim and Jacob Perez’s Seoul Crime Caper Hits Its Thrilling Peak
Castor and Minah are on the run in Seoul's shadowy back alleys, while Paul faces a life-altering choice at Incheon Airport. This penultimate issue of Derek Kirk Kim's mind-bending crime thriller brings the action to a screeching halt.
There is a specific kind of kinetic energy in a chase scene that only comes when the artist understands that every second counts. In this penultimate issue of Royals, Jacob Perez captures that exact panic. Bullets are flying and cars are screeching as Castor and Minah make a daring escape through the labyrinth of Seoul. It is a breathtaking display of visual storytelling that keeps your pulse racing from the first panel to the last.
While the action erupts on the streets, a quieter but equally tense moment is unfolding at Incheon International Airport. Paul is standing at the precipice, preparing to leave everything behind. The narrative pulls you in two directions: do you stay with the fugitives fighting for their lives, or do you follow Paul as he wrestles with whether to stick to his guns or turn back to help his brother? It is a masterclass in parallel tension.
Derek Kirk Kim brings his Eisner and Harvey Award-winning sensibility to this tale, grounding the high-octane action in emotional weight. Known for works like The Last Mermaid, Kim crafts a crime caper that is as mind-bending as it is thrilling. Paired with Jacob Perez’s rising-star artwork, this issue feels like the perfect place to jump in if you have been curious about the series—or a must-read if you have been riding along for the ride.
The shadowy back alleys of Seoul provide a perfect backdrop for this unique blend of crime and family drama. It is the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after the final page, not just because of the action, but because of the choices the characters are forced to make. If you love stories where the stakes are personal and the pacing is relentless, this is the one I’d hand you without hesitation.
Keep an eye on the variant cover by Kim and Perez—it’s a great way to add this to your collection if you are grabbing the issue. The stack moves fast, just so you know. Trust me on this one; it is the kind of thriller that demands your full attention.