DOWNLOAD #3 – Review

DOWNLOAD #3, from Red 5 Comics on March 16th, 2022, puts the pieces together (literally) as Eric and his friends find out the history behind Serizawa’s company and the origin of the space beam.

The Details

• Written By: Scott Chitwood
• Art By: Danny Luckert
• Colors By: P.H. Gomes
• Letters By: Troy Peteri, Dave Lanphear
• Cover Art By: Danny Luckert
• Cover Price: $3.95
• Release Date: March 16, 2022

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Was It Good?

Well, well, well. This issue took a turn in the series. Up to now, the Download series succeeded in projecting an old-school Spielberg film feel about a trio of friends who find themselves in the middle of fantastical shenanigans of an alien nature. In DOWNLOAD #3, the human villain not only make’s his intentions plain but Eric and his friends come face-to-face with the alien presence behind the designs and it gets surprisingly violent.

It’s a curious thing to see an 80s-style Spielberg film suddenly dip into Rated-R territory. Honestly, this is the kind of surprise readers should want to see in a comic. Rather than playing it safe and going the predictable route, Chitwood ratchets up the tension and danger to put an edge on the narrative.

The dramatic tension is further enhanced by Chitwood’s excellent sense of pacing. In this issue, the events unfold very fast. Eric and his friends find themselves in the middle of events quickly spiraling out of control, and you can feel the panic as our protagonists get swept away (literally). To be clear, the panic and the quick pace don’t feel rushed. The story is flowing in a measured, controlled way and that’s a mark of good pacing.

The art by Luckert and Gomes is quite good in this issue. The linework feels a little overly-referenced (read: traced) in spots but not enough to drag the quality down. However, Gomes’s coloring is the real standout with excellent shading and textures.

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]

To catch up on how Eric and his friends crossed paths with Serizawa, first read our DOWNLOAD #2 review.

We begin with a flashback to 1854. A recluse is building similar gadgets to the ones Eric has been experimenting with. When a pair of robbers invade the mine, thinking the recluse is hoarding gold, the simple robbery goes explosively wrong.

Now, Eric and his friends meet Mr. Serizawa who explains his company was founded and grown by finding the alien designs peppered throughout Earth’s history. He’s spent millions reverse-engineering the gadgets to make his company a fortune, and now, he wants to collaborate with Eric to build more. Eric is not convinced Serizawa’s motives are altogether honest.

Meanwhile, Serizawa’s henchmen ransack Eric’s garage while he’s not home. Before they can leave with all the stolen plans, they’re intercepted by a very unhappy grandmother wielding a loaded shotgun.

We conclude the issue with a revealed connection between Serizawa’s lab and the recluse’s mine, putting the pieces together, and a deadly walk on the wild side.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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