LADY HEL #3, from Dynamite Comics on November 23rd, 2022, finds Lady Hel and her undead seagull companion looking for a gateway to return to Helheim. Unfortunately, the very-real Greek legends of old will make the walk home a precarious one.
The Details
- Written by: Erik Burnham
- Art by: Zhengis Tasbolatov
- Colors by: Salvatore Aiala
- Letters by: Dave Sharpe
- Cover art by: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 23, 2022
Is It Good?
LADY HEL #3 may not be the hero’s journey you’re used to, but the titular character is certainly giving the Greek heroes of yore some competition. Erik Burnham takes Lady Hel (and readers) through some of Greek mythology’s greatest obstacles on a fairly interesting trip to the Underworld.
The highlight of Burnham’s script is the seamless intermingling of different versions of Death and the Underworld. Lady Hel escapes her watery grave to make her way back to Helheim by mortal pathways. During the trip, readers who are mythology fans get a treat as Burnham brings up mythical elements from the story of Orpheus, Cerberus, the Harpies, and Persephone as obstacles Lady Hel must overcome to get home. If you’re a fan of classic stories cast in a new light, as we are, you’re going to enjoy the Easter Eggs in this story.
Tasboltov’s art is fairly good, particularly in the updated designs for classic Greek characters. The panel compositions are excellent, and the action choreography is well done. Aiala’s digital coloring doesn’t integrate as well as it could with the inks, giving the scenery a flat-fill look, but it gets the job done.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our Lady Hel #2 review to find out how Lady Demon put Lady Hel in a watery grave.
We begin with a dream/flashback recounting the eons-old rivalry between Lady Hel and Lady Demon. Their struggle personifies the everlasting push and pulls between Order and Chaos. Now, Lady Demon has seized on Lady Hel’s weakened state to gain an advantage.
Lady Hel breaks free from her chains beneath the sea and begins the long trek to her destination, the gateway to the Underworld once traveled by Orpheus. The undead seagull who pestered Lady Hel before her brief fight with Lady Demon is waiting for Lady Hel. Since it can’t die and has nothing else to do, the seagull decides to accompany Lady Hel on the long trip to Greece, needling her with questions every step along the way.
We conclude the issue with an upgrade that doesn’t feel like an improvement, monstrous enemies, and a fight with an unexpected ending.
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Final Thoughts
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LADY HEL #3 takes readers on a trip down Greek Mythology lane as the titular character follows Orpheus’s legendary journey to the Underworld. The character designs are excellent, and the action is well done, but the color isn’t integrated as well as it should be with the inks.
Related Information
What is Hel the goddess of?
Lady Hel is a variant of Hela of Norse Mythology. In the original legends, Hela is the goddess of death.
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