MINOR THREATS: THE LAST DEVIL LEFT ALIVE #3 (DARK HORSE COMICS)
The best laid plans never go off without a hitch.
Frankie Follis aka Playtime has resurfaced after going off the grid. Cooper Scadlock’s real-estate schemes have forced Follis to recruit a team to investigate the dirty deals. While trying to get the Searcher to jump on-board, Follis has given a shocking surprise. The Action stepped in to stop her squad. One of their members is her daughter, Maggie!
After making an escape, Brain-Tease and “Barfly” steal a thumb drive. Once in safe quarters (and a questionable addition to her ranks), Follis plays the drive’s content. What she finds rattles the group to their core!
Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive #3 by Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Scott Hepburn, Ian Herring & Nate Piekos unveils more answers in Playtime’s latest adventure.
Let’s not wait any longer and break this issue down.
Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive #3 by Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Scott Hepburn, Ian Herring & Nate Piekos (Dark Horse Comics)
***Minor Spoilers Possible***
To see how Oswalt and Blum weave in so many themes into this series is a testament of how great of storytellers they are. The opening into of Scadlock’s plans is one filled with emotional damage and entrepreneurship. A broken relationship of father and son spurs ambition into the unknown. Readers watch as Scadlock’s moves lead to an even greater vision than expected. It justifies Follis’ worry. The mood never leaves her side while looking at an uncertain future. This attitude doesn’t leave when the story transitions forward.
Pigeon Pete’s redemption road continues with mixed results. His dialogue with Frankie attempts to mend bridges, but no foundation is accepted. However, one of the most unique characters is introduced to readers is a spectacular way. Mar The Man-Car joins the crew in a quirky & exciting manner. It offsets some of the deeper drama brewing in the background. Searcher’s attempting to find purpose gets some divine intervention. Once all roads come into view, it sets forth a new phase for the lost bunch of souls. The closing pages harken back to Maggie Follis. Being rejected from The Action’s plans against Playtime, another player sets in to fill the void. Much in this dark and seedy world, emotions can kill. A proposition is made which could cause major problems for the Minor Threats team. Excellent work.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Hepburn and Herring expose the deep rooted pain between Cooper and his father. The full page image of the Omni Central Station is devious is stature. Its’ secrets paint a disturbing picture. Scadlock’s work comes to life with a half page shot. Once back to the team watching, their expression fill with doubt. Follis stands strong in this moment. It pushes into her next moves with a pivoting point. The interactions between Searcher and Barfly break up the scenes with the awkward interactions. Hepburn times this portion well before revving it up for the next act.
Readers watch as the other sub plots gets some key images before speeding into close. Maggie’s lead showcases her rage about being benched. The panel ripping the practice dummy in half makes a statement. It is pivotal for the closing moments of this chapter. Searcher’s time is filled with doubt. It leads to a near full image of inspiration. All take a back seat to Mar’s first appearance. The full page escape is pure Minor Threats style. It has a dash of fun humor mixed in with the serious action. The page compliments Scadlock’s full page meeting. Panels accelerate quickly to match the furious pacing. This gets a new guest crashing the party via half panel shot. Once in the final stages, a full closing image wraps up the chapter with a question in the air. Another spectacular visual ride.
OVERALL GRADE: 9.5/10
Scadlock’s madness behind his methods comes to light in another incredible issue of the MT Universe. Oswalt and Blum weave in many themes while maneuvering Playtime through the complexity of saving Redport. Hepburn and Herring showcase their creativity with new characters and handling the drama that only family can bring. Without question, This series needs to be a staple on your pull list!
Let me know your thoughts on Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive #3 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
