GONERS #3 on sale December 17, 2014.
The Good
Jacob Semahn (co-creator, writer) is creating a story that has me connecting with the two lead characters and anxious to learn more and more about this supernatural world, but man, these visuals do a brilliant job of pulling me into this fun and frightening world. Jorge Corona (co-creator, pencils), Steve Wands (inks, letters) and Gabriel Cassata (colors) not only go all-out when it comes to bringing these animated characters and settings to life, but the layouts and angles are such a strong addition to Semahn's story. There's so many visual teasers in here that had my mind racing and had me feeling totally immersed. From the reveal of glowing eyes to only a creature's legs being seen, these panels do such a good job telling the story. There's a big brawl in here and it's full of energy; you can really feel the force behind the substantial hits. What will really leave an impression is the bit with the shotgun. When writing it, I'm sure Semahn wanted it to be an incredibly powerful scene, one that allows us to feel the pain, rage and sorrow someone is experiencing. Well, thanks to the layout and talented handling of the expressions, it delivered.
There's so much character and worldbuilding in this third chapter. The first two issues gave us a better emotional connection to Zoe and Josiah Latimer, and this third one gives Francis just a little more of the spotlight while also taking big steps to expand this mythos. It's not a huge amount of insight, but it's just enough to give us a better understanding of why Francis is fighting so hard to protect these two children. You know, aside from just assuming he's a decent person and doing the right thing! There's also a huge teaser and, without spoiling anything, the look into the past is an effective way to tie into the current story. Not only is the cliffhanger enough to hook you, but all of the mythos building should definitely pique your interest, too. This is an issue you'll want to read twice.
When I first read the ending, I was torn down the middle. They really couldn't do this, right? There's dark, and then there's really dark. Now, I'm feeling pretty confident there will be more to this development and it won't be permanent, but the fact it has me wondering about it says a lot about how it's handled. Given what has occurred in the past 2 issues and it's still such a new series, part of you is going to be saying, "No way that'll stick. No way!" But the rest of you will likely have your jaw-dropped and a seriously strong desire to read the next issue. No matter how it plays out, that was one hell of a scene.
The Bad
Minor criticism (doesn't impact the score): The establishing shot of King Bluff's Police Department impresses with the way it brings the city to life and how it handles the sky and spotlights, but the water fountain had me feeling like I was forgetting about a plot device because it looks frozen. Sure, there's an attempt to show water splashed and rushed down the side, but the rest of it seems solid. That had me wondering why it would be frozen before going to the next page. Again, it's a minor issue, but when the art is so good, you can't help notice if something isn't up to par with the rest.
The Verdict
GONERS #3 has it all. It's emotional, full of mystery, has more than a few thrills, and it's all presented with some awesomely animated visuals. The artwork continues to win me over and really does feel like the perfect way to bring this fun yet scary tale to life. The story grows in a way that brings about interesting new elements without taking a toll on the pacing. It's character-driven and packed with just the right amount of comedy, excitement, and fright as it teaches us more and more about this new world. It's a terrific blend of supernatural horror and adventure, so if that sounds appealing to you -- and it should -- you need to do yourself a favor and give this series a chance.