DOG TAG #3 (Mad Cave Studios)

Tom Fuller and the other members of his of his outfit are struggling to survive in the harsh French winter. But the weather becomes the least of their problems when the Germans decide to attack them. Can Tom and the rest of the gang survive to fight another day?

Dog Tag #3 - Written By Mark Russell – Art By PJ Holden - Colors By JP Jordan - Letters By Buddy Beaudoin -Edited By Jon Moisan - Published By Mad Cave Studios

Credit: Mad Cave Studios

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Tom Fuller and his men are hunkered down in foxholes somewhere in the Ardennes forest. It’s wintertime and besides snow and cold they have to fight the other uncomfortable things you find inside a foxhole. As Corgi and Tom try to make the best of it, the Germans attack and send everyone in disarray. During the confusion Corgi is shot and it’s up to Tom to find him some help to save his life. The only problem is they are outnumbered, out gunned, and the Germans have now taken out their medic. Can Tom save the life of his friend, well also getting himself to safety? Or will both reach their ends in this god forsaken forest?

WRITING:

This issue continues to show the harsh realities of World War II by focusing less on battlefield spectacle and more on the everyday misery of survival. Mark Russell takes on the less glamorous side of war, showing readers what it means to be trapped in a freezing foxhole, surrounded by fear, exhaustion, discomfort, and uncertainty. The opening moments may feel deliberately mundane, but that is part of their strength. Russell understands that war is not only made up of heroic charges and dramatic victories; it is also made up of long stretches of waiting, cold bodies, frayed nerves, and soldiers trying to hold themselves together while the world around them falls apart.

Once the Germans attack, the story shifts from quiet discomfort to sudden chaos, and Russell captures that transition extremely well. The violence does not feel polished or exaggerated; it feels messy, confusing, and terrifying. Tom and the others are not presented as unstoppable heroes mowing down the enemy. They are scared men reacting in the moment, trying to survive while everything happens too quickly for them to fully process. That sense of confusion gives the issue a strong feeling of realism, especially as the mission becomes less about winning a battle and more about saving a wounded friend before it is too late.

What makes Russell’s writing so effective is that he refuses to romanticize the war. He lets the dirt, fear, cold, and desperation sit on the page, allowing the reader to feel the mental and physical toll alongside the characters. That authenticity gives the issue emotional weight and makes the danger feel personal rather than purely cinematic. Russell never shies away from the uglier, less exciting parts of combat, and that honesty continues to be one of the biggest strengths of this series.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue perfectly matches the story’s grim and grounded tone. PJ Holden captures both the atmosphere of war and the toll it takes on the people trapped inside it. His characters feel tired, cold, and worn down, which helps sell the idea that these soldiers are not simply fighting the enemy, but also battling exhaustion, fear, weather, and the awful conditions around them. The foxholes feel cramped and miserable, the snowy forest feels hostile, and the military machinery gives the issue a strong sense of place. Holden’s attention to detail makes the battlefield feel alive rather than staged, placing readers directly on the front lines with Tom and the rest of his outfit.

Holden also does a great job showing the sudden shift from uneasy stillness to violent chaos once the attack begins. The action is clear enough to follow, but it never feels overly clean or heroic. Instead, the panels communicate panic, confusion, and danger, making the reader feel how quickly control disappears in combat. His facial expressions and body language are especially important here, because they show how much fear and desperation the characters are carrying even when they are trying to stay focused. That emotional detail gives the artwork more weight and keeps the violence from feeling empty or purely decorative.

JP Jordan’s colors add a lot to that atmosphere as well. The earthy tones, cold shadows, and muted winter palette fit the World War II setting without making the pages look dull. The color work helps separate the characters from the snow, mud, smoke, and machinery while still keeping everything visually connected. Jordan’s palette reinforces the mood of the issue, making the cold feel sharper and the danger feel heavier. Together, Holden and Jordan avoid glorifying combat while still presenting its harsh realities in a way that feels intense, immersive, and emotionally honest.

Check Out My Review of DOG TAG #2

Final Thoughts:

Dog Tag #3 shows the grim and unsexy parts of war that may not be the most heroic or over the top but are real and unflinching. The way this issue ends on a sad and down moment shows that this series isn’t your typical war story. The realism of this story and its artwork is what completely draws me in and makes me want more even if it’s harder to face. This series should be on everyone’s Pull List. If you haven’t given this book a shot yet, grab a copy and check it out.

FINAL GRADE: 9.2/10

Let me know your thoughts on Dog Tag #3 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!