REVIEW: ‘Sea of Sorrows,’ Issue #3

Sea of Sorrows #3 is published by IDW Publishing, written by Rich Douek, art by Alex Cormack, and letters by Justin Birch. As the cold light of day once more shines upon the sea, our intrepid crewmen awaken to find some of their number missing. With both Mark and Sunny Jim unaccounted for, the crew begins searching the Vagabond from stem to stern. However, some areas may need to be checked more discreetly than others. And there is still a hoard of gold to be brought up. With the possibility of the weather changing, or the wreck falling off its precarious perch, time is of the essence.

Sea of Sorrows #3 opens this issue by returning to Pfeiffer’s time during the war. We join up with the stranded seaman as he is pulled aboard an American ship. Half crazed, he demands to be let back into the water. While the obvious time skip, omitting the events that took place immediately after the German sub came into contact with our monstrous siren is to be expected, it is infuriating all the same. Not in a bad way. Just once again, Douek shows off his understanding of what to show and what to save while building up an exciting horror tale.

When Sea of Sorrows #3 returns to the present, it is morning, and the crew is awakening to realize that Mark has gone missing. A search is soon underway as they try to locate their missing man. But with the captain worried about the incalculable number of things that could ruin their situation if they delay diving again for the gold, he decides to assist the diver with the gold recovery while everyone else searches. However, more than gold may await in the briny deep.

Meanwhile, through all of this, Sunny Jim continues his single-minded pursuit to reach the water. The lengths his broken mind will go to achieve his end is uncomfortable to behold.

While Sea of Sorrows #3 is a slower issue, it uses it”s time to build up the already mounting tension among the crew. As the search progresses, tempers flare, and mistrust grows. Douek writes each character wonderfully. Though Pfeiffer and Sofia are easily the strongest personalities aboard the Vagabond. These two feel like they stand out the most among the story’s many faces. I look forward to seeing where their tales ultimately end.

Cormack continues to bring great emotion and illustrative balance to this book. With the story switching between the ocean floor’s darkness, the bright sunshine top deck, and Sunny Jim’s dark tomb-like hold, the visuals keep a fresh look to them throughout the story.

Wrapping up the presentation is a suitable lettering performance from Birch. While the story is presented clearly, I would’ve liked to see a little more emphasis given to the text in some places to help push the emotion in certain panels. The extra flair a bit of lettering design can bring to a moment cannot be underestimated.

When all is said and done, Sea of Sorrows #3 brings another excellently crafted chapter of its narrative. With only two more issues to go, the story is fast approaching the end game. I, for one, cannot wait to see what Douek and company have in store for us.

Sea of Sorrows #3 Is available now wherever comics are sold.