SPY ISLAND # 3
DARK HORSE COMICS
CREATORS: CHELSEA CAIN & LIA MITERNIQUE
WRITER: CHELSEA CAIN
ARTIST: ELISE MCCALL
COLORIST: RACHELLE ROSENBERG
LETTERER: JOE CARAMAGNA
The creators of Spy Island use the third portion of the tale of Nora Freud to expose some of her “unmentionables”. By providing a glimpse at her family, we see the life that possibly led her to spy work. We also witness the operation that led to her assignment in the Bermuda Triangle, while getting a sense that it may have backfired.
Equal parts humor and mystery the story delivers just enough of both to keep the reader entertained. True to the world of espionage, what appeared to be a mermaid sitution now seems to be much more. I can’t speak on how much the Bermuda Triangle works to benefit this story. With a litany of weirdness in it’s history, the Triangle has proven as a place where potentially anything can occur. The perfect place to get lost or get rid of someone.
Nora isn’t the sole focus of this issue. It seems Connie’s meeting with Louie at the end of last issue is something different than anyone could have suspected. Harry continues to have only one real use and that is to be at Nora’s disposal. The supporting cast is written to perfectly compiment both Ms. Freud and her investigation.
The artistic elements of this comic are just as engaging as the story. Varying from comic book realism to funnie pages art and back is a bold and dangerous experiement. Spy Island and the absurdity of the adventure play up these moments brilliantly. From an explosion that looks plucked from cinematic screen to stick figures instructional these break moments happen at perfect moments in the story.
Dark Horse has delivered a smart sophisticated and sexy spy in Nora Freud. Her dialogue is delivered with dossier diction, as if she was being interviewed about the events. And yet she manages to provide flare and flirtatiousness in her conversations that gives the heroine all the appeal of a spy. The island removing the benefit of technolgy takes the tools away, make for more cat and mouse spy games. All these contribute to give the story of Spy Island a sense of being a homage to the cinematic spies who are gone for me. More from GWW Hidden Society # 3 (REVIEW)