Review – Farmhand #3 (Image Comics)

Publisher: Image Comics
Writer/Artist: Rob Guillory
Colours: Taylor Wells
Release Date: 12th September 2018

It’s always refreshing to read something truly different, and Image Comics are never afraid of publishing something that shakes things up from the same repeated stories. Farmhand does just this by combining a plethora of themes to create a story I promise you won’t have come close to seeing before. So far we’ve been introduced to Ezekiel, a husband, father to two ‘interesting’ kids, illustrator and writer on the journey of sobriety. Oh, and he’s also the son of the genius farmer who has created a brand new stem cell plant hybrid that has completely shattered all what we thought of as medical science.

It seems old Grandpa had a vision of the cell (brought about by some supernatural force, no less) which has spurred him to start a business based around growing new limbs and organs to help those who may have lost them in accidents, etc. However, as we’re slowly learning, everything isn’t quite as innocent as it seems. So far we’ve seen undercover assassins, vaping goons, politicians and more all wrapped around this mysterious new seed with its own emerging symptoms for those who opted for a transplant. There’s so much going on at once, with each plot thread filled with equal amounts of intrigue and fascinating speculation as to just what the old man has up his sleeve.

Rob Guillory shows the complexities of the characters in a great way with the individual exploits if each character mixing with the main arc of his mysterious story. The son Riley is having trouble fitting in, as well as seeing an imaginary friend who’s a little more real than we first thought. The daughter Abby is suitably angst-ridden, more interested in fighting than making mates. Ezekiel himself is looking for work whilst trying to get to the bottom of his father’s true intentions. His godfather Tree is trying to lead the town into salvation from the unexplained forces behind the seed. Oh, and Mr Jenkins is constantly dealing with the many secrets and consequences it seems only he knows the true depths of.

While the storyline is undeniably crazy, Guillory’s artwork ups the insanity level even further. His distinctive cartoony style doesn’t detract at all from the story, in fact it actually adds a lot more to the viciousness and otherworldly feel of this strange world. The features are exaggerated, comical and grotesque, in many ways adding a lot of humour throughout. I particularly liked the two finger salute to Inforwars bigot Alex Jones last issue and the homicidal puppy monster this issue. It’s full of nods and little in-jokes that make the world even more special and inviting to the reader, prompting us to pay closer attention to the already engaging story.

Bonkers, current and deliciously otherworldly, FARMHAND is a sci-fi story with elements of the supernatural, and has the makings of yet another Image classic.

Rating: 4/5.

If you want to find out more about FARMHAND, make sure to check out our interview with Rob Guillory by CLICKING HERE.

[PREVIEW ARTWORK]