PROJECT RIESE #3, from Mad Cave Studios on 10/11/23, sinks further into the mouth of madness when Sam and his team stumble upon an underwater lab and GOLD!
The Details
- Written by: Zac Thompson
- Art by: Jeff McComsey
- Colors by: Paul Little
- Letters by: Justin Birch
- Cover art by: Jeff McComsey
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: October 11, 2023
Is PROJECT RIESE #3 Good?
Zac Thompson’s treasure-hunting adventure goes deeper and gets wetter (ahem) when Sam’s crew fights off Nazis, tumbles through tunnel collapses, fights cyborg dolphins, and more. PROJECT RIESE #3 may be a little (or a lot) over-the-top, but it certainly is original.
Thompson’s script picks up where issue #2 left off with Sam and the team in a firefight against post-WWII Nazis and a cyborg Baron. When the fight comes to an explosive end, the team is hurled down waterfalls and labyrinthian pipes to discover a bevy of water experiments. When the only way out is through, the team finds everything they want and more.
Yes, that’s right. Cyborg Nazi dolphins. It doesn’t make sense, but Thompson’s writing frequently doesn’t make sense. However, this is a rare case where the concept is wild enough to overcome the execution.
What’s great about PROJECT RIESE #3? Thompson’s imagination is on full display with inventive traps, imaginative discoveries, and a fair bit of curiosity for what comes next. The serious tone is almost entirely replaced in favor of campy schlock, but at least it’s interesting shlock.
What’s not so great about PROJECT RIESE #3? If you’re not a fan of over-the-top shlock, you’re going to have a hard time getting through this comic. Even the character acting and dialog come across like a cheesy 1980s video movie that was too low-budget to get released in theaters.
How’s the art? Sadly, Jeff McComsey’s art execution took a slight step back in this issue. Several panels look hastily sketched or devoid of standard details. Paul Little’s art miraculously saves the visuals, but McComsey’s pencils/inks are disappointing.
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What’s PROJECT RIESE #3 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our PROJECT RIESE #2 review to find out how Taiyo got injured.
We pick up with the team in the middle of a firefight with the Cyborg Baron and his Nazi soldiers. After a brief scuffle and return fire, Claire launches a grenade that brings the roof down on the Nazis. Unfortunately, the explosion collapses the floor and sends the team hurtling down an underground river.
The group finally washes into a lab used for water-based warfare experiments. Their only choice is to go lower, with the aid of dive suits. As the team makes their way through the flooded lower levels, they’re attacked by cybernetic dolphins adorned with multiple, lethal weapons. The team barely escapes after Taiyo makes a valiant sacrifice.
We conclude the issue with respect, a broken train, and a bell.
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Final Thoughts
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PROJECT RIESE #3 gets weirder and wilder as Sam and his team run from Nazis while searching for the legendary gold train. The traps and dangers they encounter are the stuff of V/H/S low-budget shlock films, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
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