Issue 5 is the fifth issue of Bitter Root and was published November, 2018. The fifth issue is the final issue included in the first collected edition, Bitter Root: Family Business.
Plot Summary[edit]
Somewhere beyond the gateway that he has been sucked within after Doctor Sylvester opened it, Cullen finds himself among familiar creatures — those just like Enoch's "guard dogs". Utterly tired and lacking energy, Cullen collapses to the ground, but finds himself picked back up by an unknown person wearing a mask.
Back in Harlem, Enoch and Dr. Sylvester come face-to-face, difficulties arise when Dr. Sylvester's magic has no effect on Enoch, and instead, Dr. Sylvester attempts to draw upon the pain and fear Enoch has endured. Unlike Ford, Enoch is lenient and offers to cure Dr. Sylvester as oppose to killing him, but Doctor Sylvester seems reluctant to listen to him. Momentarily, Berg, Blink, and Ford arrive on the scene. Ford pleads with Enoch to close the gateway, but Enoch is reluctant until Cullen is rescued. Ford remarks that Cullen is as good as dead and they should seal the gateway, this is more important. Miss Knightsdale grabs Doctor Sylvester and the two flee but Miss Knightsdale is injured in the process when she is shot by Ford.
Reeling from her injuries, Miss Knightsdale is carried into Doctor Sylvester's lab, but she is rapidly degenerating and knows that she only has moments left before she fades away. With her final breath, Miss Knightsdale gives Doctor Sylvester all of her pain and fear before slipping away. Doctor Sylvester appears broken but vows his revenge against the Sangerye's.
At the Sangerye establishment, Ma Etta asks the police and Jonnie-Ray Knox to distribute soup to those aiding them to fight against the Jinoo; Ma Etta wants to ensure that everyone has their strength and to comfort those who are scared during the fight. Meanwhile, Berg can feel the infection within himself spreading. Despite Enoch's assistance and a serum that seems to help, Berg is able to feel Doctor Sylvester's presence within himself.
Moments later, Doctor Sylvester bounds into the Sangerye establishment and a gateway opens on the street outside. The Sangerye's are aided, however, when two masked figures enter the shop and force Doctor Sylvester to flee. The masked figures reveal themselves to be the Sangerye's mother, Nora, and Cullen, who seems to have grown up a little since he entered the gateway.