Review – Joe Golem Occult Detective #3 (Of 5) (Dark Horse Comics)

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden
Artist: Patric Reynolds
Release Date: 6th January, 2016

In the last issue of JOE GOLEM: OCCULT DETECTIVE, our titular protagonist was locked in battle with an amphibious monster and had just found a group of missing children being held captive in the beast’s layer. Furthermore, his nightmares of a past life involving witches and golems had intensified, giving him something of an identity crisis in the process. The current issue picks off immediately where the last one ended, with Joe now trying to get the kids to safety, while trying to finally put an end to the monster he’s been battling throughout the series so far.

If you’ve read my previous reviews, then you’ll know how much I’ve enjoyed JOE GOLEM so far. It’s an action-packed series, set in a unique world, with monsters. What more could you possibly want? However, the most interesting part of the story is Joe’s horrific dreams of a past life; at this point those are the parts I look forward to reading most, and the period setting alone is deserving of its own comic.

The majority of issue three is action; Joe and the monster continue to lay the smackdown on each other underwater, but progress is made as we find out a little more about Joe’s opponent, and the issues ends on yet another high note that opens up a brand new mystery for the next instalment. This is flawless sequential storytelling, making you want to back for more each week, and striking a perfect balance between action, character development, suspense and humour. It’s pure pulp entertainment at its absolute best, revelling in its own geeky influences, and is infectiously fun as a result.

JOE GOLEM continues to be everything you could possibly want it to be. Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden are a heck of a team, and Patric Reynolds continues to compliment them perfectly by bringing unique worlds to life stunningly with his art. All in all, this series is an absolutely essential purchase.

Rating: 5/5.

PREVIEW ARTWORK
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