NATURE’S LABYRINTH #3, from Mad Cave Studios on January 18th, 2023, finds the final 6 taking a much-deserved break at the Pit Stop. Unfortunately, a few hours of rest leads to a calm before the storm.
The Details
- Written by: Zac Thompson
- Art by: Bayleigh Underwood
- Colors by: Warnia Sahadewa
- Letters by: Rus Wooton
- Cover art by: Filya Bratukhin, Jason Wordie
- Comic Rating: MA
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: January 18, 2023
Is It Good?
NATURE’S LABYRINTH #3 takes a break from the action for the players to regroup and reassess their situation, form alliances, and prepare for whatever threats are coming next. By most measures, this is a breather issue that doesn’t accomplish much, except introduce new characters on the host’s side of the situation. In short, this is a down issue in an already uneven series.
Let’s focus first on the positive. Zac Thompson’s imaginative script earns a few amusing points for crafting a twisted version of Disney’s Frontierland. Animatronic, anthropomorphic animals sing and dance while they hold players at gunpoint, and even the most innocent-looking object could be deadly. The idea has merit, and it’s entertaining to imagine what this series could be if the entire race took place in the amusement park.
But with the good comes some bad. The pacing in this issue is downright dull. You learn a little about the other characters through provided biography descriptions, but that’s about it. We have no idea why this competition exists or its intended goal. Two new “henchmen” are introduced for some narrative purpose that’s never explained, and all we know after three issues is that every contestant is a criminal, and Jane isn’t who she claims to be.
We’re at the halfway point of the series, and we know nothing about the purpose of the hunt, we make no appreciable plot progress in this issue compared to the last issue, and none of the characters give you any reason to root for their success, including Jane.
The second positive spot in this issue is the art by Underwood, Sahadewa, and Wooton. The character designs have a mildly cartoonish quality, but they’re certainly memorable. The panel composition is solid, and the coloring is excellent.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our NATURE’S LABYRINTH #2 review to find out how Jane and her ally got out of their latest scrape.
We begin with Jane and Terror arriving at the next checkpoint, where they learn their next objective – make it to the Pit Stop. They make it to the Pit Stop, where the rules are suspended, and they have six hours to rest.
Eventually, the other contestants follow along to enjoy what remains of the 6-hour rest clock. Between the resting and talking, we see flashbacks to two of the island’s henchmen, discussing their nervousness over accepting the assignment.
We conclude the issue with the deadly assault once the clock hits zero.
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Final Thoughts
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NATURE’S LABYRINTH #3 takes a mid-arc breather to do nothing in particular that matters to the story. We learn nothing relevant about the players or the organization behind the hunt, and the pacing is decidedly dull.
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