By Garrett Hanneken

Action-packed comics can be a fun thing. They remind us why superhero stories are told through comics. We are able to read the dialogue between the hero and the villain while watch them fight it out through the panels. The latest issue of The Curse of Brimstone delivers on the action, but it doesn’t quite deliver on the fun.

To sum things up, issue 3 of The Curse of Brimstone is about Joe fighting the salesman and his agent while also fighting the urge to become the agent that the salesman wants him to become. There is a good amount of fighting in this issue, and although I usually enjoy reading these kinds of comics, this one didn’t quite do it for me.

To put it plainly, one of the downfalls in this issue is the artwork. It still isn’t to my liking and if you are a fan of the art then you probably had a more enjoyable time reading this comic than I did. The reason being is because the art plays a pretty crucial role in action-heavy comics. Usually, when two characters duke it out, there isn’t much said between the two and you’re more focused on the artwork. Unfortunately, the art isn’t able to hold its own as certain panels feel jumbled and facial expressions appear awkward.

On a more positive note, the story is progressing in a way that makes the protagonist more tragic. This is a good thing because in issue #1 Joe came off as a whiny boy who blamed everyone else for his problems rather than himself. Fortunately, and not for Joe, the end of issue #3 gives him a reason to feel a pain that is merited. However, I didn’t feel sorry for Joe and I think this is contributed to my disdain for the character that was established in issue #1.

Although I am not the biggest fan of the artwork, the story is trying to work its way to something better than what it started with. We begin to feel for the protagonist as opposed to him coming off as a sullen nobody. If this comic is able to keep working towards what issue #3 establishes, then the series might see an improvement, but as of now, I can’t say I would recommend this comic with any conviction.

Score: 2/5

The Curse of Brimstone #3
DC Comics