CHARRED REMAINS #3, by Mad Cave Studios on 2/28/24, shows Amy that the Fire Man isn’t acting alone, which puts her and Vic at the center of a growing threat to the city.
The Details
- Written by: Anthony Cleveland
- Art by: Andrea Mutti
- Colors by: Andrea Mutti
- Letters by: Taylor Esposito
- Cover art by: Maan House
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: February 28, 2024
Is CHARRED REMAINS #3 Good?
In the last issue, Vic was plagued by horrific nightmares of people burning and hearing voices in the fire – people screaming for help that he can’t provide. The nightmares were throwing him off and affecting his work as a firefighter. He confided in his captain, who said he had similar experiences and had a solution. But before he could share it, they were called away to a fire. Meanwhile, Vic kept getting envelopes with pictures under his door, suggesting that there might be a face in the flames – someone trying to convince him the Fire Man is real.
On the other side of the story, Amy visited her friend Jade, who she rescued from the homeless encampment fire. She learns that Hope’s House, a charity organization, had checked Jade out of the hospital. When Amy went to Hope’s House looking for Jade, she discovered that they provided her with medical treatment, food, clothing, a place to live, and a job – all incredibly quickly. This all seemed suspicious. Amy asked for Jade’s whereabouts, but no one would help her, and she couldn’t find Jade anywhere. Surprise! Turns out Amy was the one secretly giving the pictures to Vic, and their next encounter ended in an argument about whether or not the Fire Man is real.
Amy’s nightmares about the Fire Man and people burning – especially her parents – grow even more vivid. Her parents say, “Don’t let his flame touch your skin, or you’ll burn with him and become part of him.” Creepy, right? Vic has similar nightmares and reaches out to his captain again. Before the captain can share his solution, they hear news that pumping stations around New Orleans are being set on fire. In case you don’t know, New Orleans has critical pumping stations that prevent flooding, especially during storms.
Amy hears the radio chatter about the fires – stations 12, 13, 14… she realizes there’s a pattern! She races to pumping station 15, hoping to get ahead of the Fire Man and capture evidence to prove he’s real. At his own assigned pumping station, Vic finds it a total loss but hears screaming from a locked room in the back. He breaks in and sees what he believes is the Fire Man – some kind of fiery demon – with people worshipping him, saying things like, “Now we are burning with him, and we are part of his chosen.” It’s truly horrific. Vic escapes, grabbing a strange lantern with a candle inside.
Amy arrives at the next pumping station and finds Jade inside, chanting about being warm and safe near the Fire Man. Jade’s carrying a similar lantern, and they fight over it. Unfortunately, Jade catches fire during the scuffle, and the whole station goes up in flames. Amy escapes, now also in possession of a lantern and candle, just like Vic. The issue ends with both our heroes having faced the Fire Man, each ending up with a lantern. Now Amy and Vic have to decide how far they’ll go to confront this threat and whether or not they can finally work together.
What we liked about Charred Remains #3
The pacing works really well, building anxiety and suspense. The atmosphere is oppressive, exactly what you want from a horror comic. Plus, the mystery surrounding the fireman and the lanterns is clever and gives us enough clues to start theorizing but keeps us wanting more.
What we didn’t like about Charred Remains #3
Three issues in, and we still don’t really know where the plot is going. What’s the overarching goal? We don’t fully understand Hope’s House yet, either. There are some big pieces of the puzzle missing, and the plot hasn’t quite come together. There’s a fine line between intriguing mystery and frustration caused by a lack of clarity. I’m not frustrated yet, but it could go that way if things don’t become clearer soon.
Art Quality
Andrea Mutti’s style might take some getting used to, but it fits the horror genre perfectly. The focus on expressive eyes is brilliant; they convey all the fear, shock, and other emotions the characters are feeling. Mutti absolutely nails this, which is crucial for a horror story. The rest of the art – the figures, the backgrounds – might be a little loose, but those expressive eyes make up for it.
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Final Thoughts
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CHARRED REMAINS #3 is packed with action and a great horror atmosphere. The monster design is especially disturbing! The overall tone of the issue is unsettling and anxiety-inducing, as it should be in a horror story. However, the story itself needs a bit more focus and direction. We’re enjoying the atmosphere, but a clearer sense of purpose would be great.
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