EVIL ERNIE (VOL. 4) #3 – Review

EVIL ERNIE (VOL. 4) #3, from Dynamite Comics on February 9th, 2022, retells the history of the Evil Ernie mantle, prophesying the doom that lies ahead for Ernest Glickman.

The Details

• Written By: Scott Lobdell
• Art By: Ariel Medel
• Colors By: Candice Han
• Letters By: Dave Sharpe
• Cover Art By: Arthur Suydam (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: February 9, 2022

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Was It Good?

EVIL ERNIE (VOL. 4) #3 does one thing very well to earn a passing grade from us this week. It establishes stakes for Ernest Glickman in a clear and hard-hitting way.

Up to now, the series has focused on “giving birth” to the new Evil Ernie within the context of Glickman’s straight-laced life. How do you get an unbelievably goody-goody character to accept the mantle of death and destruction, albeit accidentally, and make it stick? Lobdell, to his credit, has done a fine job of building out Glickman’s world and subtly manipulating him into a corner where the outcome was inevitable. That said, one question remained – Where do you for from here?

Now we know. The proper origin story has switched into a full speed ahead quest story. We won’t spoil the nature of the quest here but keep reading through to the next section for more details.

With the quest established, Glickman’s clock is ticking and the threat of death lurks around every corner. Again, Lobdell lays out so clearly and in an entertaining way, that any reader will immediately get the challenge Glickman faces and you have a firm reason to root for him.

On top of the hammer blow revelations in this issue is some very keen art by Medel. Intestines fly, brains, splatter, and there’s no question by the end that Glickman needs to find a way out of this mess or his ending will hurt… a lot.

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]

If you don’t remember how Glickman got himself into this mess, first read our EVIL ERNIE (VOL. 4) #2 review.

We begin in the Dark Ages where Smiley recounts the genocidal levels of death and destruction by previous Evil Ernies with one goal in mind – to gain the love and favor of Ronique. there’s no act too profane, no murder too bloody, that Evil Ernie wouldn’t commit at Ronique’s command. That is until she knifes him through the heart when she’s done with him.

Now, Smiley explains to Ernest Glickman that he’ll live only as long as it suits whatever purpose Ronique has in mind. Once, she has what she wants, she’ll kill him until she needs him in the future. Ernest has until that moment to figure out how to be rid of the mantle, Ronique, or both.

Needing time to process this new information, Ernest heads back to his dorm where the relationships in his life B.S. (Before Smiley) are not prepared for the influence Evil Ernie is having on Ernest’s personality. His alpha male is in full effect. Bullies are afraid of him, and women are irresistibly attracted to him. Soon, Ernest accepts he can’t figure out his predicament without Smiley’s help.

We conclude the issue with multiple reunions, none of which are welcome.

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