You may recall Wolf Country from what I’m told is a pretty popular episode of our comic book podcast the CBMFP. I remembered it quite well so when I finally found the time to sit down with the newest issue I was stoked to do so. Wolf Country #3 is every bit as charming as the first two issues if not more so. This time around it feels like a fleshed out idea and the creative team is in sync which always makes for some great comics. The story begins in the settlement called “Wolf Country” (where the story takes its name from) as the vampire guards sent to help protect the settlement inform Mrs. Halfpenny that they’ll be taking a patrol due to the moon being out. They have a list of requested men to accompany them and one of the men is Carmichael, the gentleman from the cover that has been key to the story. It’s a quick exchange, but it establishes how the soldiers view the settlers and how the settlers view them in return.

Back in The Kingdom, Mr. Halfpenny comes before two overseers. Halfpenny is standoffish during this exchange as he’s given the mission of just talking to a man. The man is stirring up people with heretic talk. Halfpenny calls bullshit on being called in for such a simple matter and lists all the tools the Department of Purity has at their disposal to shut the man down. Still, he’s sent to talk to the man, but you do have to feel for Halfpenny as the job will clearly be his downfall even if he doesn’t know it yet.

The story is developing quite nicely. The parts I want to talk about I won’t because they’re the parts that made me want to read more. Halfpenny is an interesting character. He’s the man’s man, but he’s also very faithful. I have a feeling his faith is either going to be rattled or lost and I can’t wait to see what that does to his character which is currently set in stone. Writer Jim Alexander provides spot on narratives and leaves the story with one hell of a cliffhanger.

The art has definitely improved from the first two issues. Not that the art was bad in those issue, but it’s stronger here. It’s more in-tune with the story and developing on its own as well. Will Pickering makes Halfpenny look like a crotchety bad ass which is a weird thing to say. It’s clear that Halfpenny is a stubborn man stuck in his ways, but at the same time he’s kind of cool too. His body language says everything during the meeting with the overseers. Wolf Country wouldn’t be Wolf Country without wolves/werewolves and Pickering continues to illustrate them very realistically which is part of the charm of the art.

This series is solid. I don’t see the quality dipping anytime soon and the fact that it’s improving with each issue is a great sign because it means the best is yet to come. I’m already looking forward to the next issue which is largely due to the cliffhanger in this issue. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but it will have drastic consequences for the series. Either way, I’ll be there.

Score: 4/5

Wolf Country #3 Writer: Jim Alexander Artist: Will Pickering Publisher: Planet Jimbot Price: £2.95 Planet Jimbot on Twitter If you're interested in buying a copy then email planetjimbot@gmail.com for a paypal transaction.