MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #3, from Source Point Press on August 24th, 2022, wraps up (*heh*) Tia and Ramses in Sir Nigel’s plan to find Samira’s tomb against Set’s warning that resurrecting Samira will bring great destruction.
The Details
- Written By: Gregory Wright
- Art By: A. Shay Hahn
- Colors By: A. Shay Hahn
- Letters By: Justin Birch
- Cover Art By: A. Shay Hahn
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 24, 2022
Is It Good?
MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #3 enters the next phase of Tia and Ramses’s adventure that feels more like an Indiana Jones story than a monster family quest. This may be the cleanest and clearest entry in the arc so far, and despite a few flaws, the most entertaining issue in the series.
The plot focuses on two key areas – the origin of Sir Nigel’s involvement with the mummy family and the consequences of entering Samira’s tomb. The plot is the strongest element of this issue since Sir Nigel’s background provides much-needed motivation for who he is and what he’s trying to do. Also, the lingering questions about Tia and Ramses’s resurrection are finally answered. In short, you could call this the “tying up loose threads” issue, so clarity is always a positive.
The downside of this issue is the corny, flat humor and the clunky scene transitions. Few of the jokes in this issue land, so you’re more likely to groan than chuckle. The scenes suddenly jump from one scene to the next with little explanation other than the exposition from one or more characters. The issue lacks a smooth flow in the narrative, so you’ll regularly have to pause with each scene change to figure out what just happened and where you are now.
The art is fine. Hahn’s art style suits the not-serious horror theme with character designs that effectively caricature designs. You could imagine this issue would work as an insert in MAD magazine or a Halloween special on the Disney channel. This is a case where saying the art is “cartoonish” is intentional and a plus.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Find out how Tia and Ramses fared in their first fight with Sir Nigel in our MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #2 review.
We begin with a flashback to Sir Nigel’s first expedition to recover the mummies using the Book of the Dead. He explains his expedition was funded by the British Museum, but he doublecrossed the organization to sell off useless artifacts to the highest bidder. Sir Nigel used the Book of the Dead to absorb great power from Tia and Ramses, but the spell failed, and he ordered the mummies to be disposed of after he left to find Samira.
Now, Ramses and Tia confront Sir Nigel, but he coerces them into navigating the death traps of Samira’s tomb in exchange for resurrecting Samira. Tia and Ramses navigate a myriad of traps, including one warm filled with venomous beetles. The poison sends Tia and Ramses into the supernatural realm where they are, again, confronted by Set. The god orders them to stop their attempts to resurrect Samira as it will bring great destruction to the world.
Later, Tia and Ramses ignore Set’s warning, and they emerge in the Smaira’s tomb. Sir Nigel followed their trail and uncovers what he’s really been after – a giant death ray weapon created by Samira when she was still alive. We conclude the issue with a demonstration, a failsafe, and a punch.
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Final Thoughts
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MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #3 is the cleanest and clearest issue in the arc with an Indiana Jones-style adventure to find Samira’s tomb. The father/daughter chemistry is heartwarming, and the circumstances of their quest are imaginative, but the clunky writing and eye-rolling jokes offset the reading enjoyment.
Related Information
Are mummies real?
Yes, mummies are real. However, they are not lumbering monsters brought back to life after thousands of years. Mummies are embalmed, wrapped, and entombed bodies, typically of important rulers, who have the honor (and the money) to be buried with a special process to preserve their bodies after death.
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