PANTHA #3, from Dynamite Comics on May 4th, 2022, finds Samira on the verge of dissection for Set’s weapons program. Meanwhile, lesser gods arrive for help only to find Set has his hands full.
The Details
- Written By: Thomas Sniegoski, Jeannine Acheson
- Art By: Igor Lima
- Colors By: Adriano Augusto
- Letters By: Dezi Sienty
- Cover Art By: Giuseppe Matteoni (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: May 4, 2022
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Was It Good?
PANTHA #3 is a darn fun comic filled with action, mystical surprises, unexpected twists, and mountains of intrigue. This is everything American Gods could have been if it wasn’t so mired in symbolism and dreamy (read: plodding) pacing.
“What’s so great about this story?”, you may ask. Well, Acheson and Sniegoski found a way to (almost) completely reinvent the character of Pantha to give her a rich backstory and make her central to the world of gods and mythology, independent of her classic origins connected to Vampirella. Here, Pantha is a force to be reckoned with as a dangerous power that’s sought after by the gods but also feared by the gods to an extent. Samira is rife with internal conflict over the burden of the curse she bears and desperate enough to use her curse in a bid to be rid of it.
That’s a lot of fancy phrasing to say this story has layer after layer of subtext, emotion, and conflict. It’s complex storytelling, but not due to a complicated plot. It’s complex due to the depth of character development Acheson and Sniegoski have crafted. Now, take those rich, complex characters and place them in a wild, mystical, world-ending, monster adventure, and you’ve got the makings of a truly interesting comic.
The complex writing is topped off by truly superb art by Lima, Augusto, and Sienty. The character designs are as rich as their character development. The coloring is gorgeous, and the lettering is a perfect match for the visuals.
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 need a refresher on Samira’s current dilemma, read our PANTHA #2 review.
We begin with Samira experiencing a waking dream as she’s confronted by Bastet, the spirit of wrath inside her. Samira is desperate to be free of the curse but Bastet makes it very clear Samira will never be free. When Samira shakes off the dream, she finds herself on a dissection table about to be chopped up so that Set may recover the wrath for himself.
Meanwhile, Ihy and Set share a drink while Set explains why Sekhmet’s wrath is better in his hands than in the body of a mortal. Ihy, powerless to do anything about it, bides his time to formulate a plan. Suddenly, Set’s home is attacked by Ta-Nakht’s upgraded bug drones. Set barely holds his own but the strength of the drones is too much and he’s lanced by one of the bugs to drain his power.
When all seems lost, a portal opens in Set’s living room, and a team of lesser gods enters the fray. We conclude the issue with a desire to fade away by choice, Samira’s curse engaged, and a hasty retreat.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
PANTHA #3 is as good a comic as any on the market today with rich, complex character development, excellent pacing, and a whimsical monster adventure. The art team pulls out all the stops to match the quality of writing for a top-tier reading experience.
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