A romanzo straight from the Italian streets where the melancholy dreams of Mafiosi become nightmares. A hitman lies dying in the grey and narrow streets of Naples, a handsome new revolver by his side. Nino's father gave him that gun for his birthday. It never fired a shot. Peppino Lo Cicero spent his life taking orders from the bosses and dodging bullets. An old man, it takes divine intervention to save his life one more time. Peppino has lost his son, but not his faith. He puts down the fishing rods of his retirement and picks up his old pistols, looking for revenge.

Shots ring out over Peppi's grey head once again as he searches for his son's murderers and the shining black gun he gave to Nino on the last night of his life. Spare, romantic, and surreal, 5 is the Perfect Number brings Italian magic realism to graphic novels in a story about heroes, families, and faith.