Writer/Artist: Josh Howard
Publisher: Viper Comics
A lot happens this issue. A lot. In fact, the whole comic feels larger than a regular indy book. The amount of suspense and danger in DEAD@17: Blood of Saints #3 is palpable and has the feel of a big budget Marvel or DC book! What can I say other than Josh Howard is producing some topflight material and I love every moment of it!
DEAD@17: Blood of Saints #3 throws us into the deep-end of the pool without a life preserver. We catch up with Detective Falcone as he recovers from his battle with the Feeders that left Elijah in a coma. In another state, our heroine, Nara awakens in a church with a man of faith protecting her and Agent Noel Raddemer from what is coming. All this while Hazy is being tortured in an attempt to draw Nara back to rescue her (Nara can feel Hazy’s pain through their spiritual link). In this issue, what Josh Howard implies is happening to Hazy seems rougher than what George Lucas implies is happening to Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back in order to get his pal, Luke to come to his rescue.
Overall I enjoyed this third turn in the story. Honestly, with this mini-series it feels like Josh Howard has taken his good concept and added a BIG budget! Everything that is happening seems a LOT larger than the last series (which I loved dearly). There seems to be more tension, more conflict, and, most important of all, more of what makes these characters great, their commitment to one another. Their friendship comes shining through as they overcome adversity in order to protect one another.
Along with the story, Josh has ramped up the art… again! The characters look great! And he has managed to really get the characterization to come through in the body language of each character. They have a distinct way of standing and approaching one another. All of the stars feel night-and-day different because they move their own way. That kind of attention to detail is wonderful!
Really, the only thing that DEAD@17: Blood of Saints #3 lacks is a big fight. And with an issue as good as this, it is not missed! The whole comic does an exceptional job of setting up the next issue’s climatic final struggle.
With this issue, DEAD@17 feels larger and more like an amazing action-adventure story starring some very strong teenage leads than an indy comic. It leaves me in a mood where I want to see more and more DEAD@17!
I highly recommend it!
And, if you are interested, here are my reviews of the previous DEAD@17 comics. You can read the reviews of DEAD@17 #1 here, DEAD@17 #2 here, DEAD@17 #3 here, DEAD@17 #4 here, DEAD@17: Blood of Saints #1 here, and DEAD@17: Blood of Saints #2 here.
And right now at www.ViperComics.com, Viper is conducting a poll to determine what Josh Howard’s next project will be: another DEAD@17 mini-series or something different. Also, you can try the first few pages of DEAD@17: Blood of Saints #1 and see all four covers for the mini-series at Viper Comics’ DEAD@17 mini-site.
For more information about Egg, click www.KamenComic.com.
What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!