THE ATONEMENT BELL #3, Red 5 Comics on January 25th, 2023, finds Jake and his friends quickly losing control of the situation when their research into the occult brushes too close to the truth.
The Details
- Written by: Jim Ousley
- Art by: Tyler B. Ruff
- Colors by: Benjamin Sawyer
- Letters by: Ed Dukeshire
- Cover art by: Tyler B. Ruff
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.95
- Release date: January 25, 2023
Is It Good?
THE ATONEMENT BELL #3 is a surprising entry in the series. Surprising in that it’s a dialog-heavy issue wherein several characters engage in explanations, pleas for help, and justifications about what’s happening, but the issue continues to build a weighty sense of dread as Jake is pulled closer to his doom. How can a writer spend so much time talking and still pull off this much drama? Unknown, but it works.
When last we left Jake and his friends, Jake was suffering the debilitating effects of the curse, complete with visions and nosebleeds, while his friends helped him research the history of the Demeter Coven. Now, the juvenile trio call in a helpful deacon to lend a hand, for all the good it will do.
Again, there’s a lot of talking in this issue, but the dialog works to move the characters toward the next development. Sara explains Jake’s condition to the deacon, putting the deacon on edge. The deacon explains the results of a field trip to Father Lietrum, causing the Father to react in kind. Every exchange of dialog pushes the story forward, as they should in every comic.
Ruff, Sawyer, and Dukeshire deliver the tension-filled goods in this issue with believable ailments afflicting Jake, expressive looks of shock and horror from the deacon, and outstanding use of light, shadow, and silhouette to create a mood of dread throughout the entire issue. How’s that for a run-on sentence of praise?
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]
Check out our THE ATONEMENT BELL #2 review to find out what happened at the library.
We begin with a flashback to the last day Jake spent with his father and the circumstances surrounding his father’s death. Now, Jake’s visions grow more vivid while his body continues to break down. Fearing library research isn’t enough, Sara and Little Al call in Deacon Shaw for help.
Deacon Shaw is skeptical about the claims of a curse, but he recognizes dark influences and agrees to help the juveniles get home safely, with a brief pitstop at the park location from Jake’s vision. When the group arrives at the park, Deacon Shaw sees for himself that something odd is going on. Suddenly, the police arrive with Sister Anna to prevent further investigation.
Later, Jake heads home to an unhappy welcome. We conclude the issue with a fireside chat that turns violent, a bedroom room visit that turns creepy, and a painful disagreement.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
THE ATONEMENT BELL #3 tightens the net around Jake and his friends as the effects of the curse become more severe. Despite the dialog-heavy issue, the story is no less tension-filled and brimming with foreboding as the dialog moves the story forward in surprising ways.
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
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.