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Graphic Novel Review: Pretty Deadly Volume 3: The Rat by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art by Emma Rios

Pretty Deadly Volume 3: The Rat by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art by Emma Rios

Image Comics, 2020

ISBN-13: 9781534315198

Available: Kindle, paperback

DeConnick and Rios’ Pretty Deadly Volume 3 : The Rat launches us forward in time from World War I to 1930s Hollywood. The late Sara Fields’ granddaughter Clara has been found murdered. Her Uncle Frank, known as “Conjure-Man” to some, is desperate to find her killer. He tracks her path through Los Angeles, where the Reapers of Hunger, Thirst, and Obsession have each attempted to lure Clara to their way of life in some way. Frank calls out, loud enough for the Reaper of Vengeance to hear his pleas to help him find out what happened to Clara. Deathface Ginny appears to aid her old acquaintance.

As per volumes 1 and 2, volume 3 presents a compelling story with familiar characters, and a few new ones. I could read an entire series on Deathface Ginny alone. Getting a few more glimpses of the Immortal Reapers is interesting as well. I wish we had more of them. Art by Emma Rios and colours by Jordie Bellaire are, as usual, well rendered. I’m hoping there will be more Pretty Deadly in the future by this team, especially knowing that Image released Pretty Deadly: The Shrike Vault Editionon April 30, 2024.

The long gap in years between the publication of volumes 2 and 3 was unfortunate. Luckily, I was able to access all volumes through interlibrary loan to reread the first two and finally read the third.

Pretty Deadly Volume 3: The Rat collects issues 1-5. At the end of the trade paperback is a collected discussion guide created by Dr. Jeremy Stoll, which makes this a book that could find use in the classroom. Recommended.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Kirsten, Reply

Graphic Novel Review: Pretty Deadly Volume 2: The Bear by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art by Emma Rios

Pretty Deadly Volume 2: The Bear - de Connick, Kelly Sue

Pretty Deadly Volume 2: The Bear by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art by Emma Rios

Image Comics, 2016

ISBN-13: 9781632156945

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com

Pretty Deadly Volume 2: The Bear moves the first volume’s timeline ahead to World War I. Sarah Fields lays dying, and her children want nothing more than their brother, Cyrus, to arrive in time to say goodbye. They approach Fox, formerly a blind man traveling with young Sissy, now a dapper sighted reaper, to give their mother until the next full moon to take her. He takes this to Sissy, who agrees. Sissy herself has changed, as she has taken on the mantle of Death, and appears as a blend of human and shrouded vulture. The problem is that Cyrus, now a young man, is fighting in the war in the trenches of France, where the Reapers of Vengeance and Cruelty run rampant. Deathface Ginny and Big Alice ride together for similar purposes.

Things have changed for everyone.

The second volume is easier to follow than the first, but just as strong. (See my Monster Librarian review for Pretty Deadly Volume 1: The Shrike here.) DeConnick used a more linear storytelling method for this installment. However, she did not lose any of her philosophical integrity in addressing very human questions regarding war. There is a deeper meaning here.

The artwork by Rios is incredible. It is easy to get lost in panels that have so much energy to them, but deliciously so. Scenes on the battlefield are intense, between the movement and Jordie Bellaire’s color palette. The updated character design for Sissy as Death is beautiful, and Fox as a reaper cleans up nicely, as the saying goes. Seeing more of Deathface Ginny and Big Alice was fantastic. Highly recommended.

Pretty Deadly Volume 2: The Bear collects issues 6-10.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Kirsten, Reply

Book Review: Pretty Deadly

Pretty Deadly, Volume 1: The Shrike by Kelly Sue Deconnick, art by Emma Rios

Image Comics, 2014

ISBN: 9781607069621

Available: Paperback, Kindle & comixology ebook

The story begins with the skeletal Bunny and Butterfly introducing us to an unusual little girl named Sissy the Vulture Girl, and her guardian, old man Fox. Sissy and Fox travel to different towns reciting the “The Song of Deathface Ginny”. which tells the story of The Mason, the love for his wife Beauty, and the tragedy that awaits her due to his carelessness with her. We learn through the tale that Deathface Ginny’s skills as gunslinger and sabre wielder are legendary, and that if she is set free, death awaits those who cross her path. As the book progresses, Sissy discovers there is much more to the story.

The artwork in this volume is absolutely gorgeous. The backgrounds are vast landscapes with the colours changing to illustrate where the action is taking place. The characters are uniquely rendered.

The storytelling is disjointed and there is a lot of information the reader gets in this first volume, but this method of storytelling it fits the material well. If you like Preacher or gritty westerns with supernatural elements, this may be a good title for you to check out. In addition, if you are looking to read or highlight something for the next Women in Horror Month, February 2018, this is definitely a title you need to pick up. Deconnick and Rios are an amazing team of women creators in the comic horror genre. Highly recommended.