SAM AND TWITCH CASE FILES #3, by Image Comics on 5/22/24, finds Twitch bringing his expertise to bear on a former colleague’s case surrounding a mass grave of mutilated bodies in a cornfield.
Credits:
- Writer: Todd McFarlane, Jon Goff
- Artist: Szymon Kudranski
- Colorist: FCO Plascencia, Sheila Saldaña
- Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
- Cover Artist: Jonathan Glapion
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: May 22, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $2.99
- Page Count: 29
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of SAM AND TWITCH CASE FILES #3:
Plot Analysis:
Something stinks in the farmland, and Twitch is determined to crack the case in SAM AND TWITCH CASE FILES #3 from Todd McFarlane and Jon Groff. But Twitch’s quest to catch a killer may take a toll on his personal life.
In issue #2, Twitch settled into the guest accommodations supplied by his old Police Academy buddy Jim in Jim’s small town. Despite the idyllic appearances of a quiet town enduring the prospect of a serial killer on the loose, a homeless man received a warm invitation that turned into a deadly pickup involving more than one person.
In SAM AND TWITCH CASE FILES #3, Twitch begins the methodical process of examining the crime scene to look for clues. By all outward appearances, the bodies were left to be found, but the reason why is a mystery.
When Twitch and Jim meet with the coroner, they learn the victims were killed months apart, and not all body parts are accounted for. The killer is playing a complex game with no clear pattern. Suddenly, Twitch and Jim are interrupted by fellow detectives who receive a break on an unrelated case. Jim asks the records clerk to give Twitch everything he needs.
Later, Twitch noodles over the case files, but he’s constantly distracted by a call from Sam, which he ignores. After he finishes his meal at the local diner, Twitch is approached by a distraught woman. She claims her boyfriend is missing, and the police won’t help her. When she tells Twitch her boyfriend’s name, he recognizes it as one of the names in the case files he acquired from the records clerk.
The issue ends with a close-up of gloved hands assembling scarecrows in a field.
Character Development:
McFarlane and Groff get up close and personal with a realistic portrayal of a meticulous detective working on a mysterious case while distracted by troubles in his personal life. Despite the title, the series and this issue are all about portraying Twitch as an everyman trying to do the right thing.
Artwork and Presentation:
Szymon Kudranksi’s photo-referenced artwork is very far from anything remotely resembling a Spawn comic. That said, Kudranski’s realism adds to the authenticity of the story as a crime procedural, so even though Kudranski’s art lacks the classic McFarlane punch, it suits the script in an arthouse sort of way.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
If you had to pick a low point for this issue, forget about a slow burn. The plot is barely simmering. The reason police crime dramas in television and film cut to the juicy parts is because detective work isn’t that exciting in the day-to-day work. Each scene is meaningful (maybe), and the scenes transition well, but in an effort to make the plot authentic, the drama is lacking.
Thematic Exploration:
Thematically, the story still appears to be centered on finding the truth. That said, Twitch isn’t aware that something’s amiss with the town, so he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know, but the goal of finding the truth remains ever-present.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Readers picking up this issue on the title/cover alone won’t find any cameos or references to anything supernatural or Spawn-related. This story takes two characters from the Spawnverse and puts them in a completely grounded and unrelated scenario.
Final Thoughts:
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SAM AND TWITCH CASE FILES #3 is a gritty, authentic crime procedural starring Spawn’s longest-standing supporting characters. Kudranski’s realistic art enhances the authenticity of the detective procedural, and Twitch’s detective work reads as believable, but the plot lacks drama and energy.
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