REVIEW: ‘Rogues’ Gallery,’ Issue #3

Rogues’ Gallery #3 is written by Hannah Rose May from a story by May and Declan Shalvey, illustrated by Justin Mason, colored by Triona Farrell, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. It’s published by Image Comics. While Maisie Wade goes out to dinner with her husband to try and escape the media buzz over her quitting the Red Rogue TV show, the group of disgruntled fans who planned to rob her finally break into her house. But things go from bad to worse when they realize they aren’t alone…and that one member has his eyes on far more than a simple heist.

After the first two issues provided a look into the toxic pit that fandom can become and how the people bringing our favorite stories to life deal with said toxicity, this issue begins to bring both storylines together. And in the process, it dials up the horror levels to 11. May ratches up the tension throughout the story, which makes the inevitable murders all the more heartstopping when they happen. And in true horror fashion, the killer’s endgame is revealed on the final page. It’s a rather chilling indictment of how far some fans might go to “protect” the thing they’re a fan of. Early in the book, Maisie says, “I’m imprisoned by the role.” Those words turn out to be chillingly prophetic, even more so when it’s revealed that she fortified the house’s security to the point where she’s locked in with the perpetrators.

What also sets the tone for a more horror-infused story is Mason’s artwork and Farrell’s colors. All of the fans who break into Masie’s house are dressed up as villains from the Red Rogue comics, but the standout is their leader Dodge – who’s clad in the costume of Red Rogue’s archnemesis, Jackdaw. True to the bird he’s named after, Dodge’s entire body is covered in black body armor with a pair of wings that look less like a bird’s and more like the Angel of Death. Another sequence concerns Maisie and Ben’s dinner date; when they arrive at the restaurant, it’s sparsely populated. But soon, the media learns that Maisie is there, and people begin to crowd outside, resulting in a crowded and claustrophobic environment. Much like May, Mason is using his art to foreshadow the horror to come.

Farrell ends up being the book’s secret weapon due to her liberal use of reds and blacks. Shadows creep throughout the book, lingering throughout Maisie’s house as the “villains” break in and on the fringes of her attempted date night with Ben. The red comes from the blood that’s split throughout the issue; one impressively horrifying page features a bullet tearing through a man’s head, sending blood and brains spraying everywhere, and the next panel is a bright red burst of fireworks. Otsmane-Elhaou gets in on the act with their letters; shrieks and gurgles piling up on top of each other and sounding all too real.

Rogues’ Gallery #3 dives full on into horror film territory, as its dual plotlines collide together with terrifying results. It’s rare that I recommend a comic to horror fans and superhero fans, but this fits the bill. More than that, it remains one of the most captivating new series that Image has.

Rogues’ Gallery #3 is available wherever comics are sold.