Comic Review: Assassin Nation #3 (of 5)

Assassin Nation #3

Image Comics

Writers: Kyle Starks

Artists: Erica Henderson

Assassin Nation is a wild ride with marvelous visuals that is screaming to be read. Crowded is the comic that feels closest in spirit to this series, what with the craziness and violence. Starks and Henderson make the characters and their choices in the book pop. While I’ve got a small nitpick, I can honestly say this is one of the most fun books I’ve read.

The story feels predictable but that doesn’t make it bad or boring. I’ve been able to guess the next steps of each issue so far but my enjoyment hasn’t been impacted. I believe I can guess the book’s end as of now and it hasn’t upset me in the least. If I’m right, then at least I guessed a cool ending of a fun book. If I’m wrong, then Starks pulls off a heavy twist with his writing and that’s still cool. Without saying too much, I’m pretty sure Rankin is pulling the strings behind most of the book’s events. Predictability may be high story-wise, but it’s the characters and their tracks that really build up this book.

Starks is a good writer who has clearly got his eye on zaniness as the stand-out characteristic for this series. It’s not necessarily about the story as it is the action and the characters making that action. As readers, we are curious about the death of Bishop’s husband so we analyze the assassins. Dave is a great analog for readers since he tends to say what they’re probably thinking. He’s rather logical in the oddball world of Assassin Nation. Tarkington is a brute when he needs to be but is more of a teddy bear at rest. Fingerman can shoot like nobody’s business but hasn’t a single brain cell left from his school days. They’re all absurd somehow, like Alice in Wonderland versions of assassins, and it makes the book outrageous enjoyable.

Henderson’s art style shines throughout the series since it lends itself to cartoonish dramedy. The action scenes are filled with utter nonsense in the vein of Shoot ‘Em Up and I can’t get enough. At one point, a man’s arms are sliced clean off while someone becomes a bowling ball against two pinhead goons. This is the kind of violence comics are perfect for, absolutely bonkers mayhem. I guarantee you this will be the most fun you have reading a comic in a while, just from Henderson’s art. It’s dynamic, bombastic, and incredibly colorful. It totally makes the issue for me.

If you’re into carnage, rampage, or heist-like media, this is a must-read. Starks crafts wonky characters that play well off each other to make interesting interactions. Henderson shows once again that she’s a household name in this industry. Assassin Nation is holding my attention but it deserves yours.