In THE ARMY OF DARKNESS 1979 #3, available from Dynamite Comics on November 17th, 2021, Ash Williams and the Half Deads fight their way through gangs of cat people and sitcom moms to find the Warlocks and get back the Necronomicon.
The Details
- Written By: Rodney Barnes
- Art By: Tom Garcia
- Colors By: Dinei Ribero
- Letters By: Troy Peteri
- Cover Art By: Francesco Mattina (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: November 17, 2021
Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.
It’s 100% FREE. Sign up NOW!
Was It Good?
It was amazing. I can’t get over how much I’m entertained by this title and how well two completely different films (Army of Darkness and The Warriors) merge so well together. Following the storyline of Walter Hill’s classic film, the gauntlet of gang fights moves from the Subways to the bridge tunnels of Central Park, and it’s the best example of a “What if…?” story that’s better than, and not done by, Marvel.
Barnes plays on the whimsical gang themes from the Walter Hill film to create a few new gang types of his own in ARMY OF DARKNESS 1979 #3. The most surprising and amusing is the “Mrs. Bradys”. It’s that subversive humor that sells this series, and as fun as the story is (Ash looking for the Necronomicon… again), it’s equally fun to look for the little Easter Eggs and in-jokes Barnes peppers throughout.
While I’m spending time praising the humor of the issue, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an exciting and unpredictable “Quest” story going on. There is, and there’s some fairly good character development going on as well. Here, Ash takes the lead fighting through one gang after another, and while he’s the newly-minted leader of the Half Deads, not everyone in the gang is ready to ride or die with him. Through the course of the issue, Ash earns the respect of the gang through his hard-headed tenacity, and you firmly get why Ash is considered a hero.
What helps elevate the all-out fun of the issue is Garcia’s art. It has a swagger and attitude that’s difficult to quantify unless you see it for yourself. Every panel has energy and movement, and the character designs are practically dripping with hip coolness. The art is as visually fun to see as the story is to read.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you’re wondering how Ash Williams got himself into this latest mess, check out our THE ARMY OF DARKNESS 1979 #2 review.
We pick up with the cliffhanger from the last issue where Ash Williams was unceremoniously thrown through the window of a subway train. There’s no magic or miracles here, but he’s just low enough to hit the asphalt without dying, and he dusts himself off to get right back into the action. Without time for a breather, the Panthers exit the train and make a beeline straight for Ash to finish the job. Lilith is eager to jump in to help Ash but the rest of the gang is not so sure after getting beat by the Panthers in the first round. After a pep talk and some shaming, Lilith convinces the rest of the gang to help Ash enough to scare the Panthers off.
Elsewhere, the word is reaching the police and city officials about the rising death toll from the Warlocks’ rampage using Necronomicon magic. As the Warlock leader pushes to use the book’s power for world domination, his gang has its sights set on more modest luxuries. However, the leader doesn’t tolerate dissent and he makes a bloody example of any resistance.
Going back to Lilith’s original suggestion, Ash and the Half Deads head to Central Park to find the Warlocks. Before long they’re confronted by another gang, the “Mrs. Bradys”. A gang dressed up like sitcom-era housewives. Hilarity ensues.
We conclude the issue with a chainsaw against rolling pin fight to the death, a lead as to the Warlocks’ hideout, and a plan to go undercover.
Final Thoughts
ARMY OF DARKNESS 1979 #3 continues to deftly merge the Army of Darkness and Walter Hill’s The Warriors into the most amusing mashup in comicdom. The character voices are outrageously perfect, placing Ash and the Deadites in The Warriors storyline works better than you can imagine, and the story continues to surprise you with humor, action, and surprises.
Score: 9/10
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com