However, Death Draws Five is a milestone in another way. It is the last of the three Wild Cards novels that is written by a solo writer. This time it is John Jos. Miller, handling the writing duties. Whereas previous solo novels in the series largely focused on a singular character in a novel-length adventure, Miller broke with that pattern by formatting his novel more like a typical entry in the series. That means that the book has an ensemble cast whose narratives combine to form a singular story.
The story begins with a long promised event in the series: young John Fortune finally gets his superpowers. The son of two OG Wild Cards heroes, Peregrine and Fortunato, John Fortune and his eventual destiny have been a plot point since way back in Book Four. With incredible but increasingly hard-to-control powers, Fortune is quickly kidnapped by the Alumbrados, a secret sect of the Catholic Church that is convinced that he is the anti-Christ.
The kidnapping quickly attracts five different heroes each with their own agenda. Fortune's long time bodyguard, Jerry Strauss, the shape-shifting Mr. Nobody, is out to get his client back. By a similar token, Fortune's father, the mystic Ace Fortunato, finally returns to America intent on finding his son. Meanwhile, former President Leo Barnett is convinced that Fortune is the Second Coming and has dispatched government operative, Billy Ray (Carnifex) to find him. Assisting Billy Ray is a new character, the Midnight Angel, a true believer in Barnett's cause, who clashes with the more irreverant Billy Ray. Finally, another new character, mercenary John Nighthawk works as an agent for the Alumbrados but secretly has an agenda of his own.
The novel was clearly intended to be a jumping on point for new readers. The plot takes all five characters on a tour of the Wild Cards universe, introducing new faces and reintroducing several old ones, sometimes to the detriment of the plot. (There's a scene where Ti Malice, a villain who has absolutely nothing to do with the book's plot, shows up and the story basically stops for several pages for an extra fight scene). On the other hand a lot of the new characters are introduced with neat powers and abilities. I really liked Mushroom Daddy, a hippie with a mysterious past and the ability to grow excellent weed.
As a stand alone story, Death Draws Five is a better than average example of superhero prose. As a way of introducing new readers to the series, it really doesn't work. Ultimately, the book is too invested in rehashing old plot lines to feel completely satisfying. A lot if it depends on attachment to established characters which a new reader to the series wouldn't have. Fortunately, a new chance to reinvigorate the series would come with the next book Inside Straight.
Addenda: The book introduces some new characters who will have stories in late books like John Nighthawk and the Midnight Angel. John Fortune's new powers will be a recurring plot point in later books.
