DEJAH THORIS (VOL. 4) #3, from Dynamite Comics on 5/17/23, finds Dejah, Rroo, and Hudd on the run from Moak’s spider army when they encounter a pride of saber-toothed banths.
The Details
- Written by: Chuck Brown
- Art by: Emiliana Pinna
- Colors by: Ellie Wright
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Jung-Geun Yoon (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: May 17, 2023
Is It Good?
Oh, boy. There’s no nice way to say it. This series is Rough with a capital ‘R’, and DEJAH THORIS (VOL. 4) #3 does absolutely nothing to change that opinion. The real mystery isn’t how Dejah Thoris and her allies are going to survive a Kaldanes invasion, it’s trying to figure out which is worse – the writing or the art.
Look, we take no pleasure in publishing negative reviews. We love comics, and we want them all to be winners. But it serves no one to review a comic positively when a positive critique is unearned. It’s not fair to the readers to publish a review that sugarcoats the truth. So, here we go.
When last we left Dejah and Rroo, they formed an unlikely alliance with the green Martian, Hudd. Now, the trio heads toward any place that can provide sanctuary long enough to come up with a plan to beat back the Kaldanes. Along the way, they make friends with a pride of banths (saber-toothed lions).
Chuck Brown’s script falls short on multiple fronts. The pacing is uneven, and scene transitions are clunky. The dialog is stiff, and the plot barely moves anywhere meaningful. On that last part, if you look at where Dejah was at the mid-point of issue #1 until the end of this issue, all she’s done is run through the wilderness while picking up a couple of allies along the way. To top it all off, there’s not an ounce of dramatic tension or grit to any of the heroes besides an occasional look of determination while running. In every way, the heroes’ actions appear to be going through the motions.
How’s the art? Emiliana Pina’s art ranges from sketchy to amateurish. Again, we take no pleasure in making that assessment for a professional artist, but there’s no way around it. Pinna is struggling with basic anatomy, particularly feet. The panels lack depth and perspective. And even Ellie Wright’s typically excellent coloring has fallen to a bland, washed-out palette selection.
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 DEJAH THORIS (VOL. 4) #2 review to find out how Dejah and Rroo became allies with a green Martian.
We begin with Dejah Thoris, Rroo, and Hudd running from a swarm of Kaldanes spiders. To save themselves from being overtaken and eaten, they dive into a nearby tornado (I’m not kidding).
Later, Dejah, Rroo, and Hudd are deposited in a glen miles away from the spider swarm, but they find themselves surrounded by a pride of hungry banths. Dejah and Hudd fight the banths while Rroo remains unconscious from the tornado ride. When Rroo wakes up, she grabs two crystal shards from a nearby outcropping and bangs them together to pacify the banths, making them friendly.
We conclude the issue with the trio reaching their destination, a casual sitting to watch the stars, and a nice nap.
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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DEJAH THORIS (VOL. 4) #3 is a bizarre issue that fails to meet basic standards of quality for the cover price. The writing is silly, stiff, and barely moves the plot forward, and the art is downright amateurish.
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