SWAMP DOGS #3 – Review

SWAMP DOGS #3, from Scout Comics on May 4th, 2022, takes readers to where the trouble all began with a legendary story about the roughest collection of evil Confederate killers the swamp has ever known.

The Details

• Written By: J.M. Brandt, Theo Prasidis
• Art By: Kewber Baal
• Colors By: Ruth Redmond
• Letters By: Steve Wands
• Cover Art By: Robert Sammelin
• Cover Price: $2.99
• Release Date: May 4, 2022

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Was It Good?

Up to this point in the series, the big question is who or what is the Swamp Dogs? In SWAMP DOGS #3, you get a full answer to that question, and the results will shock you.

Brandt and Prasidis take their successful run of Bayou Zombie horror back to the Civil War for a tale about a group of mercenaries, killers, and twisted malignancy in human form, brought together to fight for the Confederates. Told through the narration of a lowly bartender, Brandt and Prasidis pull out all the stops as they introduce readers to the most despicable collection of villains you’d ever want to meet.

The entire issue is effectively one flashback, but its importance can’t be understated because the characters you meet are so loathsome, you’ll have no doubt about the evil that inhabits the woods and the dangers you’ll face if you stray in the wrong direction. In short, the flashbacks set the stakes and do so effectively. You may not be fond of the protagonists, but now knowing what they’ll soon face, you wouldn’t wish their imminent troubles on anyone.

So, is this a good comic? Yes. It hearkens back to the shock and gore of Creepy magazine and Tales From the Crypt mixed with the Southern horror of Two-Thousand Maniacs (1964). You could make the case this issue is all setup, but it’s a doozy.

The story is good, but it doesn’t work if the art isn’t up to snuff. Thankfully, Baal, Redmond, and Wands make sure not to pull any punches. The villains bludgeon, burn, rip, and tear their victims to shreds at every turn for their commander, for unholy voodoo rituals, or just for fun. The art is so wildly gory that it dips into a comical (heh) territory, but it gives gorehounds plenty to like.

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 don’t recall what a rock band is doing in the middle of nowhere, first read our SWAMP DOGS #2 review.

We begin with the assortment of bandmates gathering in the morning at a local watering hole named Swamp Dogs. As the players arrive, they ask the bartender where the bar got its name. What follows is a tale of depravity, murder, and evil.

During the Civil War, Colonel Bertram Cougill was considered the meanest, roughest, deadliest officer the Confederate army could muster. Throughout the issue, we’re introduced to the most despicable collection of killers, torturers, assassins, and brawlers handpicked by Cougill to strike fear into the heart of the Union. They called themselves the Swamp Dogs.

Cougill commandeered an abandoned plantation in the nearby swamp, complete with a group of slaves, to serve as a base of operations and to satisfy his loathsome desires away from prying eyes. Eventually, the Swamp Dogs made the acquaintance of a local witch, Mathilde, who showed them all the rites and dark magic they desired for a price. However, all the magic in the world isn’t enough to snuff out the desire for freedom. We conclude the issue with spells, retreats, and disaster.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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