Graphic Novel Review – Pretty Deadly Vol 3: The Rat by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios (4.5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Fantasy/Graphic Novel
Length: 152 pages
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 24, 2020
ISBN-13 : 978-1534315198
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd volume in the Pretty Deadly series
Source: Christmas Gift
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
“Diving beneath the sun-soaked strips of 1930s Hollywoodland, where the best and brightest are dimmed and broken, the granddaughter of Sara Fields is found dead. Desperate to solve her murder and versed in the ways of the Immortals, her heartbroken uncle calls on the Reaper of Vengeance to aid him. In his obsession, following this twisted path may lead to his undoing.”
Series Info/Source: This is the third volume in the Pretty Deadly graphic novel series. I got this book as a Christmas present.
Story (5/5): This was really well done and I enjoyed it a lot. In this volume the Conjure-man finds out his niece Clara has been killed and summons Ginny (the Reaper of Vengeance) to help track down Clara’s killer. The two get caught up with the Reaper of Obsession and Ginny tries to help the Conjure-man escape but this calls Sissy (the Reaper of Death) from her Garden. Between the noir style story of the Conjure-man’s hunt for Clara’s killer we see Sissy tending her Garden and trying to understand things.
Characters (4/5): I continue to love the characters in this series, they are all very “grey”…really not good or bad. I enjoyed meeting more Reapers and always love spending time with Ginny and Sissy and learning more about them.
Setting (4/5): This whole novel is set in 1930’s Hollywoodland and is done in a very dark noir type of style. It was well done and matched the whole murder mystery theme the story had very well. The sections with Sissy in her garden are drawn much differently and reflect that setting beautifully too.
Writing/Drawing Style (5/5): I thought this was one of the most well written volumes to date, the story was very cohesive and easy to follow. I loved that each chapter starts out with a synopsis in a poetic format to remind readers of what is happening. The illustration style always blows me away, it is so beautiful, moody, and unique and has amazing detail. I absolutely love the drawing style here and that, paired with the intriguing idea of the Reapers, keeps me coming back to this series again and again.
My Summary (4.5/5): Overall I really loved this third volume in the Pretty Deadly series!!! This is so beautifully drawn and I am loving the storyline. This was my favorite volume of this series yet!
