Next Men #5 was the best issue yet.  Byrne has used a revenge plotline from a time-traveling foe to scatter the Next Men across time -- not randomly, but instead to some of the most horrific times in history.  As one Next Men is medically tortured by Nazis and another suffers from the plague, the most interesting story occurs with Tony (Antonia), the African-American agent who has been an anchor character in the book being placed in the Slave south before and during the Civil War.  While I was worried how the 2011 John Byrne would handle this touchy plotline, he surprised me by turning in a brutal yet gripping portrayal of life on a plantation that left me breathless as I turned each page.  Tony, the proudest and toughest character in the book,  is ground down by the Slave masters who have all the power on their side.  Not only is the resolution of this seemingly hopeless situation totally satisfying, the plot thread then makes a massive twist on the last pages as Tony realizes she can act to avert Abraham Lincoln's assassination!  The book ends with a teaser cover for next issue with Lincoln in the foreground in the theatre booth, John Wilkes Booth behind him putting a gun to his head, and Tony behind Booth doing the same!

If this sort of over-the-top conceit and imagination isn't what comics do better than any other artform, what is?  And speaking of art, it is spectacular, particularly the dress of the characters in the Plague timeline, but also in the expressions and detail of all the characters.  A real tour-de-force.,

For so many years I've hoped that the guy who brought me so much pleasure with Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, and Next Men would someday come back to comics after his meanderings in silver age worship and Star Trek, and I'm pleased to report I think that guy has returned!  Welcome back John Byrne, it's is SO GOOD to read you again.