In DIE!NAMITE LIVES! #3, available from Dynamite Comics on August 18th, 2021, Evil Red Sonja is confronted by the military’s secret weapon, and Vampirella heads to S-Mart with Pantha to retrieve the Necronomicon.
Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.
It’s 100% FREE. Sign up NOW!
The Details
- Written By: Fred Van Lente
- Art By: Vincenzo Carratú
- Colors By: Kike J. Diaz
- Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Cover Art By: Dave Acosta (cover D)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: August 18, 2021
Was It Good?
This comic is frantic, wacky fun. If you like frantic and wacky content that isn’t afraid to get its hands bloody (as I do), in the same vein as the Army of Darkness, this is a great issue.
The story is frantic in that it barely stops to take a breath before readers are moving on to the next scene with a big WOW moment. And that’s what makes this issue so fun, the WOW moments hit you non-stop nearly from cover to cover. You get everything from vampires to were-creatures to superheroes to zombies to Frankenstein monsters to gigantic space explosions. The pace never slows, and what makes it more enjoyable is the fact that it all works into the story seamlessly.
The story is also wacky for nearly the same reasons and a little bit more. Ash Williams is Ash Willims so you know what you’re going to get, and I highlighted in prior reviews how well Van Lente captures the voice of the character in this series. Beyond Ash’s typical antics as he finally crosses paths with Vampirella and Pantha, Captain Future exerts his influence over the US military generals in a scene straight out of Dr. Stranglove that colors the whole book with a surreal air of satire.
Van Lente’s unique blend of zany action and satirical humor results in an odd tone but one that’s completely geared towards energy and fun. I like where this story is going. I like the characterizations, both good and evil. And I enjoyed this comic quite a lot.
Regarding the art, it’s very good for pulling in all the characters from assorted corners of the Dynamite universe in a way that feels cohesive to the setting. Peter Cannon doesn’t look out of place standing next to Evil Red Sonja or a Frankenstein soldier. Everyone has a distinctive look, but it fits together nicely.
The only minor down point is the muted palette of the colors throughout the issue. While the overall art works, the colors trend toward dull. It would serve this issue better to have at least a few color accents that pop.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
There’s a lot going on, so do yourself a favor and read our DIE!NAMITE LIVES! #2 review to get caught up before going any further.
Evil Red Sonja and Zombie Peter Cannon have arrived in Honolulu to kick up some chaos with a plan. They’re making as much noise as possible to bait the US military into bringing out their secret weapon(s) early so they can wipe them out and take the tactical advantage. The US military responds exactly as predicted by dropping a squad of Frankenstein soldiers on the beach to take out Evil Red Sonja.
Evil Red Sonja is perturbed that she can’t control these technically dead soldiers, but Zombie Peter Cannon works out a solution to stop the unstoppable monster squad. He deduces the soldiers are controlled via satellite, so he sends Zombie Black Terror and Zombie Scarab to take out the satellite. What they don’t know is that taking out the satellite was part of Captain Future’s plan.
Meanwhile, Pantha, Miss Fury, Vampirella, and Tabu show up at S-Mart to retrieve the Necronomicon Pantha ordered via S-Mart’s auction website. When they break in, Ash Williams is there to defend the warehouse against looters. After some mistaken identity hijinks, they explain they’re there to pick up a late delivery and Ash goes into full Customer service mode.
We conclude the issue with Ash reuniting with an “old friend”, another hero receiving a zombie bite, and a race to the barbecue.
Final Thoughts
DIE!NAMITE LIVES! #3 cranks up the pacing, over-the-top antics, and fun to 11. Van Lente’s characterization of characters from other media is spot on, the energy from cover to cover never stops, and this comic is a Hell of a lot of fun.
Score: 9/10
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