We have another issue of Descender coming right at us, so let’s take a look and see what happens next. Will it be as tragic and sad as last issue? Is it good?
Descender #3 (Image Comics)
The newest issue of Descender is another solid entry of series, continuing to slowly build up an interesting mythos and set of characters. Story-wise, this issue is similar to the last in the sense that the comic didn’t make many leaps forward in terms of story progression. We had two big things happen this issue, one of which is a mystery of sorts and the other involves our leads finally meeting up with one another. Both of these plot points are good and do have potential for how they could play out in the future. It is apparent we are still in the setup phase of the comic, so the slower pace is a bit more appropriate and thoughtful to ease the readers into this universe and situation better than previous sci-fi comics like Saga and Southern Cross. Though for readers who want things to be moving more quickly, this might work better for you in a trade format.
Jeff Lemire’s writing still holds up very well as we reach the halfway point of the first arc. The story structure and setup are constructed well and everything flows from scene to scene very well (very important since most of the issue jumps back and forth between Dr. Quon and Tim’s “dream”). Nothing feels jarring during a scene transition and there’s a lot of good buildup happening in the issue. The further and further we get into Tim’s dream, the more tense it gets in the sense that you are wondering just what exactly you are seeing or what is going to happen next. The dialogue is good, with nothing that sounds out of place or stilted. The characterization is not as heavy as previous issues, but what we do get of it is well done. For instance, I do appreciate the subtle bits with Dr. Quon and Captain Telsa as they talk in the opening (there’s a lot you can pick up about her character during this).
Of course, the artwork by Dustin Nguyen still looks amazing. The characters are always easy to identify, unique in their appearance and show a lot of personality in their mannerisms and expressions. The layouts are simple, but put together well and are easy to follow from start to finish. The lettering, something I do take for granted admittedly, is really well done here, with most of the robots having their own unique style and font to them. I would say the strongest part of the art is still the coloring. It really brings out the mood and tone very well in the scenes, especially during Tim’s part of the comic. All of this really makes for another beautiful looking issue of the series.
Is It Good?
Descender #3 is another fantastic and highly enjoyable issue of the series. While progress is a bit slow in areas and the comic is slowly building up this world, the things that we do learn are intriguing, the writing is still going strong, and the artwork continues to look downright gorgeous. Image has been putting out a lot sci-fi comics recently and of all of them, Descender is easily the best and most worth your time.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
