Unlike a group review, in a “Dual Review” two writers (in this case James and Dustin) will take a look at the issue and give a numeric score for the issue. Let’s jump into it! All blood spilled into the earth makes its way to a river. Where those rivers meet, Fox attends the birth of a beast, the child of a thousand violent deaths.
James:
I really didn't think that I could like this title any better than I have after the first two issues. With Issue #3 though, I have proven myself wrong. This story just gets better and better and better with each passing month. Everything... The story... The artwork... The intensity... Hell, even Bones Bunny... it just continues to entertain with a spectacular flair reserved for the best comics.
Ginny is after Fox and she will not stop until his blood flows like a river on the ground. Fox is out in the desert on the run and trying to evade an enemy that is impossible to evade forever. Something is going to give and as this story is starting into its second half, I am dying with anticipation to see where things will go.
This issue also gives us some more back story that has begun to transform this surreal western into a surreal western dark fairy tale. Pretty Deadly is a reason to like comics and it is an exceptional title all the way. Kelly Sue Deconnick and Emma Rios have blown my mind with this stunning piece of work. I find myself not wanting the story to end. Bones Bunny spins a good tale. I can only imagine what will happen next. This title is truly one of the year’s best.
Dustin:
What’s up with bunny and butterfly right? I know that’s a big question that everyone asked after the first issue. For me it’s what the entire book is about; stories about life and death. I’m sure there’s more meaning there and I do have a bigger feeling towards it, but I need more context and room in order to truly explore it. I just know that that they’re there to be more than our narrators.
This issue explains a lot. It really explains what we witnessed going down from the first two issues. Not everything since there is still a chunk or two of the story we don’t know, but it gives us an insight to Fox and Sissy’s side of the story. And damn that story is good. It even tugs on your heart strings a little bit when you see it go down. I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending and how the reveal played out was a big dumb. I mean I get it, but it seemed forced upon the story to an extent.
The art continues to be stunning and if you had problems with confusing panels in the first two issues I’d say that that’s cleared up in this issue. I’ve never found it confusing, but I noticed there was a bit more structure to the layouts in this issue. The lettering this book is some of my favorite. There’s something about Clayton Cowles lettering that fits perfectly with the story. It fits in with the setting as well not coming across too modern or being to Western either.
Overall this is another great issue in the series. I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon and each issue only delights me more. If you bailed on it after the first issue you might actually want to give it another chance though you’re a fool for bailing in the first place.
Score: James – 5/5, Dustin – 4/5
Writer: Kelly Sue Deconnick Artist: Emma Rios Colorist: Jordie Bellaire Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 12/18/13