Publisher: Zenescope Entertainment Inc.
Writer: Ralph Tedesco
Artist: Antonio Bifulco
Colourist: Erick Arciniega
Release Date: 18 May 2016
Price: $3.99

Dark is the most apt word to describe Inferno Resurrection #3. But then that is to be expected in a comic book about an ex-hell demon hunter sent back by Lucifer. Namely, one Mercy Dante, sent back from hell to capture escaped demons. However, what Dante faces when she returns to Earth is a lot more evil than she could have anticipated.

Inferno Resurrection #3 is dark in terms of narrative and visuals. The whole comic book has a black/grey/blue hue to it, matching the dark concept. Throughout the comic there is a sense of brooding and underlying subtextual tension keeping the reader interested from one page to the next.

The characters in Inferno Resurrection #3 are well developed and the dialogue is executed to provide both humour and drama in equal measure. The lead character Mercy Dante, in particular, has a deadpan sarcasm befitting her persona perfectly. It isn’t overdone and feels natural. Dante is strong willed, and a bit pissed off which comes across perfectly within her dialogue and the choices she makes in the narrative.

Inferno Resurrection #3 is a cleverly written narrative which leaves the reader asking questions but offers enough information to avoid the frustration that can often come with trying to keep the reader guessing. There is a deftly handled subtext and a variety of storylines, both personal and professional, which weave a web of intrigue for the reader without losing said reader along the way, which can be common fault comics lesser.

The artwork in Inferno Resurrection #3 is classic comic book style. The imagery is strong but the dialogue drives the narrative forward; having said that the artist is able to impressively convey emotion through the images which compliment the storytelling well. The dream/fantasy sequences, in particular, offer up some intense imagery without resort to the hackneyed.

Inferno Resurrection #3 is an intense semi-adult read, with some provoking imagery and well-rounded character development. Relationships between characters are tangible and it is easy to develop a bond with them, especially Mercy Dante. The imagery and artwork mirror the darkness of the story and this issue ends on a suitably unnerving cliffhanger, making the reader all the more desperate to read the next issue.

 

Reviewer: Stu Greenfield
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker