Comic Review: A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance #3

Image Comics

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist: Andre Lima Araujo

Colors: Chris O’Halloran

Letters: Rus Wooton

The opening issues of Rick Remender and Andre Lima Araujo’s A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance featured a lot of serene, tastefully colored art and a handful humorous slice of life moments, interspersed with sudden moments of gory horror. In #3, several bloody puzzle pieces fall into place.

Atmosphere was key in the first two issues of A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance. They were quiet. There was an air of mystery and uncertainty on every page. At the start of issue #3, that atmosphere explodes. Within the first few pages, we see a man doused with scalding water and smashed with a cooking pot, a woman’s face driven into the floor, an attempted strangling, and a violent stabbing-by-house-key.

It is the first proper action sequence in the book and Araujo’s art more than keeps pace. The impressive, architectural line work–on full display in a gorgeous opening sequence in French Polynesia–bends to the dynamic action. Araujo frequently drops backgrounds and uses action lines to center the most visceral moments. Chris O’Halloran plays a key role, swapping calming, natural tones for theatrical reds and oranges lighting during the fight.

The frenetic opening cools down in a quiet car ride away from danger. It’s at this point we get our first true emotional stakes in the series. Furthermore, it’s the first time we glimpse a sense of narrative direction.

As Neva and Sonny prepare for another harrowing addition to the story, readers are left to wonder about our protagonist. It initially seemed like Sonny accidentally and quite randomly swapped phones with a contract killer. But Sonny’s explanation to Neva suggests he may be more familiar with this line of work than previously thought.

And of course, we don’t know who exactly Mayor Oak is (disgusting finger-in-mouth guy?). Or what Neva did to so thoroughly piss him off. And don’t forget Vancouver police, who can link Sonny to brutal murders he didn’t commit. Or the real Blue Jackal, who does not appear the type to be pleased when someone messes with his reputation.

As it stands, A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance is exactly where every great comic should be three issues in: providing great, intimate character moments in the foreground, while promising an entire world unfolding behind the scenes. Brace yourself for #4.