The City Beneath her Feet #3 (Dstlry)
When The City Beneath Her Feet, published by DSTLRY, first came out, I was really excited to see what James Tynion IV was going to write. Then I saw the rest of the creative team, my favorite colorist Jordie Bellaire, artist Elsa Charretier, and letterer Aditya Bidikar. At that point, I knew I was probably going to love what was inside this comic. But did the third and final issue stick the landing? Let's continue and find out.
Credit: DSTLRY, Cover Artist: Martin Simmonds
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The one thing that really hurt this title wasn't the story. It was the delays. Right from the start, it took almost a year for the second issue to come out in November 2025, and then another eight months before we finally got this third and final issue. The last delay was caused by the distribution issues that affected the comic book industry in 2025. That needs to be said because the book itself was on schedule, and it wasn't DSTLRY's fault. Now that we've got that out of the way, I can honestly say this story is going to read much better in its collected edition, which will be available on November 17, 2026, in a hardcover for $30.
The story Tynion is telling isn't really about action or mystery. It's about making a connection with someone you probably never thought you would connect with and figuring out what to do when that love can't be expressed because it would ruin the other person's life. To me, that's real love, and it's what makes this story hit as hard as it does.
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I also love how self aware James is. Through Zara, he basically tells us she doesn't really know how to write action and that she was really just ripping off Kill Bill. Most of us caught on to that, and I love that he leaned into that. It feels like Tynion is talking directly to the readers, and moments like that make the book even more enjoyable.
But what really shines is the artwork. Elsa Charretier's art and Jordie Bellaire's colors are what make this book feel so tangible and alive. Every page has so much emotion and movement that you almost forget you're reading a comic. Every issue has been a master class in visual storytelling, and I honestly think this is some of the best artwork in comics right now. I think a lot of people are going to resonate with this story in one way or another. It's a fun take on an action comic, but underneath all of that is a story about regret, missed opportunities, and a romance that could have been but never was.
FINAL GRADE: 8.5
Every issue has been a master class in visual storytelling with an incredible story of love conquering fear.
If you’ve read this issue, let us know your thoughts in the comments. Make sure to like, subscribe, and follow Fanlight Zone on all platforms.
