I love the idea that “Fame” and “Talent” are given by external forces. It’s what interested me about the first series of 27 and it’s a concept that continues in this issue as well. It’s very fitting that a book dealing with a rock star and his chase of fame and attention would leave its readers the same way it’s main character does, always wanting more. I said on Twitter before writing this review that there was only one book that I was looking forward to tomorrow and if you haven’t guessed by now, this is the book. From the first issue of the first series this book has had its hooks and me and it’s one of the few titles that I would chase down if I had to and if you missed the first series then you now need to go pick it up.

This issue starts off with a bang as our injured protagonist presses the button once more. He snaps a nearby twig and draws in the air creating green stick figured people who he asks for help. Soon enough a crudely drawn ambulance pulls up to a hospital to drop off our injured rock star and manager. From there our story is cut in half as one half of the page shows Garland and his manager healing and bounding with each other, while the other half has Valerie our “one-hit wonder” cultivating musical artifacts. These events all lead up to a party that Valerie hosts for all of her one-hit wonder friend that ends in a bargain with yet another external force.

What I really enjoy about 27 is the writing. I love comics that have many layers of story and allow readers to take and understand the events of the story differently. I tend to describe this as surface story that is there for everyone to understand and enjoy, but then there is the deeper story that’s layered and stacked below that story. That’s where books like 27 are truly brilliant and exciting because there is always so much more to take from the story. I would describe writer Charles Soule as a writer’s writer,because you can’t help but read his work and want to attempt your own story or simple dissect his work in the best of possible ways so that you can get to each and every layer of the story. Literally after each issue of 27 I feel inspired; I feel that I can do more than read this comic but actually do something meaningful and lasting in this world. Because of that I hope that 27 never ends, but continues to develop in well-thought out pieces of some of the deepest story telling in comics today.

The art continues to be strong and beautiful and play to the story in all the right ways. As I mentioned in the review for the first issue the art is cleaning and to use a musical term, has a studio feel to it. It could just be artist Renzo Podesta developing as a creator, or it could be an intentional technique to play into the story more. Art is subjective so I’ll choose the way I want to look at the art, but at the end of the day it’s hard to argue that there is something beautiful about Podesta’s style and how fitting it is for the series.

I skipped reviewing the last issue because sometimes you don’t want to share your favorite book with everyone. This book sits very near the top of my list of favorite series and it has a certain effect on me that I haven’t had since Blue Monday, in which I want everyone to read and enjoy the series but wish I could keep it all to myself. With this third issue I just couldn’t see myself not sharing how good the book is with everyone. Lastly this issue should give away the theme to the covers for the second series (not that it’s really been a secret), so look back at the first two issues and figure it out. In the meantime, it should be a no-brainer that you need to pick this book up this week and frankly if it wasn’t releasing tomorrow I wouldn’t even bother going to the comic shop.

Score: 5/5