ALL GUTS, NO GLORY #3, from Zenescope Entertainment on April 13th, 2022, forces Jimmy to man up or shut up when Julius spirits Sara away to be his bride. It’s up to Jimmy, wearing the world’s worst paperclip costume, to stop Julius from converting Sara into a full vampire.
The Details
- Written By: Ralph Tedesco
- Art By: Jordi Tarragona
- Colors By: Walter Pereyra
- Letters By: Taylor Esposito
- Cover Art By: Sean Chen (cover A)
- Cover Price: $5.99
- Release Date: April 13, 2022
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Was It Good?
ALL GUTS, NO GLORY #3 is the kind of “action/horror with a wee bit o’ comedy” throwback to 80s films that tickle your nostalgia funnybone long after it’s first released. Just shy of a double-sized issue, Tedesco invokes shades of Back to the Future, Fright Night, and Once Bitten with a finale set in a High School dance that goes horribly wrong for everyone present.
The beauty of this series (and this issue) is the way Tedesco evokes those nostalgic feelings for 80s horror films while still delivering a fresh and original story. Jimmy is the likable underdog that finds the hero within himself when it counts. Sara is the spunky love interest who’s just as strong as Jerry for different reasons. And once the final battle kicks in, it’s as wild and crazy as you can imagine with plenty of schadenfreude for evil bad guys and bullies alike.
This is the last issue of the arc, but little hints are dropped at the end to suggest future adventures, possibly a tie-in to another Zenescope title. We shall see how it pans out, but for now, this was a surprisingly fun, action-packed, gory adventure with enough humor and sweetness to provide a little something for every taste.
Of course, we couldn’t conclude this (very) positive review without a word regarding the art from Tarragona, Pereyra, and Esposito. Zenescope has a rep for a strong house style, especially among the Grimm titles, but these horror/comedy titles are a cut above even by Znescope standards. The panel compositions are slick. The character designs are memorable. And the action is raucous like an out-of-control party. As with the writing, the art is entirely focused on fun, and it shows.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you don’t recall how Jimmy and Sara wound up being confronted by Julius the vampire, first read our ALL GUTS, NO GLORY #2 review.
We pick up from the last issue’s cliffhanger with Julius invited into Jimmy’s home by his mother. When Jimmy’s mom steps into the next room for a moment, Julius gives Jimmy and Sara an ultimatum – Sara leaves with him now or he’ll kill Jimmy and his mother right now. Sra reluctantly agrees and leaves with Julius for his performance at the High School costume dance.
Later, Craig arrives for Jimmy and takes him for a crash course on shooting monsters with an impromptu werewolf confrontation. Craig agrees Jimmy is ready to handle a weapon, and the two head to the High School to stop Julius and rescue Sara, with the help of paintball guns laced with a special mix of holy water and silver.
Julis orders his underlings to guard the school and not kill any students on the school grounds (because he wants the same performance gig next year). When Julius’s performance reaches a fever pitch, the Monster Hunters arrive looking for payback, Jimmy is forced to shoot it or shut it, and Sara’s thirst is put to the ultimate test.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
ALL GUTS, NO GLORY #3 is a memorable finale to a fun adventure that pays homage to the action/horror/comedy films of the 80s. The action is over-the-top fun, the characters are memorable, and the ending is satisfying while leaving the door open enough for a sequel or crossover with other Zenescope titles. This is a must-have for 80s horror fans that like a little black humor mixed in.
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