DARKLAND #3, from Scout Comics on March 1st, 2023, finds Rose in the ruthless clutches of Mah’s gang when a twist of Fate sets her life on a new path.
The Details
- Written by: Nicholas Black
- Art by: Serg Acuña
- Colors by: Hackto Ashiro
- Letters by: Bernardo Brice
- Cover art by: Victor Santos
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 1, 2023
Is It Good?
DARKLAND #3 pushes the story forward in Rose’s journey as she struggles to survive after her capture by Mah’s gang and Dante’s betrayal. In general, this is an interesting issue, but the plot takes a few left turns that lead to unexpected and admittedly confusing places.
When last we left Rose and Zed, Dante betrayed Rose during a medicine hunt, and Zed paid a visit to Mah in the hopes of getting intel on Rose’s whereabouts. Now, Rose suffers abuse that ends with a series of strange developments, and Mah pairs Dante with Zed to track Rose down.
As a post-apocalyptic urban fantasy, there’s a lot to like in this issue.
Nicholas Black concocts giant monster attacks, talking trees, speeder bikes, and vicious punk gangs that look like they stepped out of a Mad Max story. If you’re looking for a sci-fi story with imagination and creativity, this issue’s got you covered.
That said, there are a few gaps in the plot and at least one hard left turn that comes out of nowhere.
The biggest plot gap is Rose. After three issues, there’s not a single hint of why she’s important, why the government wants her, or the implications if Rose falls into the wrong hands. Zed is chasing a mystery box, so the reader has no reason to get invested.
The hard left turn comes after a monster attack that brings Rose into contact with a talking tree. The comic immediately cuts to an older couple in a house basement reacting to an alarm from a microwave oven with a sample of goo inside. There’s no context, setup, or apparent connection to anything else in the comic, and that’s how the issue ends. We’ve said before that writers need to balance the line between intrigue and confusion. This scene falls off the line squarely into confusion territory.
Serg Acuña and Hackto Ashiro give it their all in the art department with gory monster attacks, brutal violence, and cinematic panel compositions. By and large, this comic looks great.
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 DARKLAND #2 review to find out what happened to Rose and Dante’s medicine hunt.
Rose wakes up after her capture by Mah’s gang. The thugs search Rose’s belongings and scavenge what they can before turning their lethal attention to Rose. They administer a brutal beating, but before the thugs can deliver the killing blow, a giant Relict bursts into the building and kills nearly everyone, giving rose a chance to escape in the chaos.
Later, Dante explains to Mah and Zed what happened. Dante has an idea about where Rose will go next, so Mah orders Dante to accompany Zed to Blueberry Hill.
Rose wanders through rubble and ruins until she finds rest at the base of a large tree. We conclude the issue with a surprise visitor, a request for dreams, and an alarm.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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DARKLAND #3 revs up the monster madness and sci-fi shenanigans as the hunt for Rose turns deadly. That said, the plot is missing a critical piece of motivation, and the issue ends with a hard left that doesn’t make any sense.
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