GUN HONEY #3 – Review

GUN HONEY #3, available from Titan Comics on November 17th, 2021, puts Joanna Tan on the hot seat for aiding a prison riot that got prisoners and guards killed. Now, Joanna has to find the man responsible or face her own prison sentence.

The Details

• Written By: Charles Ardai
• Art By: Ang Hor Kheng
• Colors By: Asifur Rahman
• Letters By: David Leach
• Cover Art By: Jay Anacleto (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: November 17, 2021

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Was It Good?

GUN HONEY #3 is standard action fair for the pulp crime series, with classic art reminiscent of the grittier titles from the Bronze Age, and a main protagonist that’s unique for being neither bad nor good but somewhere in between. And while the story is standard, it excels with a twist reveal at the end that adds a completely new story layer to the series.

Up to now, Joanna Tan has run through the series showing off her talents as a solo act, chased by assorted groups for their own respective agendas. Here, Tan is grudgingly saddled with a keeper/partner as a condition of leading her own investigation to find the escaped prisoner. The setup shows a new side to Tan in how she handles a tag-along, and it gives Ardai the opportunity to show off a little humor when Tan’s partner fails to blend in with her kind of crowd.

Again, the selling point is a twist ending you won’t see coming. If you have a shrewd mind, you might pick out little hints towards the third act of the issue, but for most, the reveal is a complete surprise. But make no mistake, it’s not a forced surprise and it makes sense for the story.

Ang Hor Kheng’s art style is perfect for this type of material. It’s gritty and uses dramatic shadow in all the right places. Tan is the quintessential femme fatale, and Kheng uses Tan’s look to take full advantage of every situation. Admittedly, It’s titillating art but not gratuitous, and it fits the nature of the character and the events of the plot.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

Before Joann Tan gets out of the hot seat, find out how she got there by first reading our GUN HONEY #2 review.

We begin with Joanna Tan (aka Gun Honey) being interrogated back at the government agency headquarters for her role in the prison riot that claimed so many lives. Throughout Tan’s career she’s managed to turn a blind eye to the death caused by her smuggling jobs, but this time, too many innocent people are dead to ignore.

Tan has a choice – find the escaped prisoner responsible for the riot or go to jail for aiding the escape. Also, Agent Barrow will be accompanying her wherever she goes. With little choice, Tan agrees.

As the two make their way through the mean city streets looking for information, Tan stops long enough to try and make Agent Barrow not look like a cop. He thinks he blends in, she confirms he does not. Amusingly, every stop they make has at least one individual asking Tan why she’s traveling with a cop, leaving Agent Barrow frequently dejected.

Eventually, they get a tip from the manager of a spa, after a run-in with goons, that the escapee who calls himself Afan is hiding in an abandoned spa. He chooses similar locations to soak and ease the pain of burns that cover most of his body. We conclude the issue with Tan and Barrow finding what they’re looking for, more goons finding them, and Tan finding much more than she expected.

Final Thoughts

GUN HONEY #3 takes the thrilling adventures of a the world’s most accomplished gun smuggler, adds in a little humor, higher stakes, and a twist cliffhanger reveal that’s truly a surprise. The art homages the best of Bronze Age style mixed with detective noir drama for an issue that’s as visually appealing as it is enjoyable to read.

Score: 9/10

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