Review: Lantern City #3 (Preview Included)

Lantern City #3

Created by: Trevor Crafts
Co-Creators: Matthew Daley and Bruce Boxleitner
Written by: Matthew Daley, Mairghread Scott
Illustrated by: Carlos Magno
Colors by: Chris Blythe
Letters by: Deron Bennett
Cover by: Benjamin Carre

Publisher: Archaia
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: Jul 8th, 2015

As Sander becomes increasingly worried he is going to be found out as an undercover agent, he’s assigned to lead a mission into the infamous and dangerous prison known as the Spiral, where a deadly riot has broken out.

What do you when the life you just assumed is one you know nothing about? How do you step into that life, a life contrary to the things you believe, and convince everybody you are the person you say you are? Sander is having to figure this out and in a big way, if he wants to have any chance to survive.

As Mairghread Scott joins Matthew Daley to share the writing duties, things definitely get more interesting, if that is possible, in Lantern City #3. Even with the addition of a new writer to the team with this issue, the feel and flow of the story from the first two issues continues to be consistent. The team handles the character and world building beautifully. The story is paced well, taking the time to ensure the reader knows who is who and what is happening without taking so much time, building the foundations of Lantern City, that the reader would no longer care. The stage is set for some very interesting revelations. Some of which may be hinted at in this issue letting the reader know that things aren’t always the way we perceive they may be when we are on the outside looking in.

There isn’t much I can say for the art, that it doesn’t say for itself (check the previews if you doubt me on this). The art continues to be suitably dark which is fitting for this dystopian steampunk world and matches the feel of the story wonderfully.

If I were to complain about anything with this book, it would be that each issue ends to soon. They need to be 10 times their current length so I can stay immersed in the world longer. Instead I’ve returned from Lantern City only to ache for another visit. Guess that isn’t to much of a complaint as it only reinforces the fact that this book has quickly cemented it’s place on the GoGeekGirl Must read list.

Final Score? Would it be fair to penalize Lantern City #3 for not being ten times longer? Would it be fair to penalize the book for not being weekly or even better daily? I think we would all agree that it wouldn’t be so instead, Lantern City #3 will simply get it’s well deserved score… a perfect 10.

Keep the story coming!

If you are attending San Diego Comic-Con International, don’t forget to stop by the BOOM! Studios booth. The team from Lantern City will be there signing Saturday, July 11, 1-2pm. This is a TICKETED signing. Tickets are FREE (though purchase of an item to be signed may be required) and are available for pick up on a first-come, first-served basis on the morning of the signing. Creators and cast members of the cast will be signing copies of the Lantern City #2 San Diego Comic-Con Variant ($10) and other Lantern City products.

• Trevor Crafts (co-creator)
• Bruce Boxleitner (co-creator)
• Matthew Daley (writer)
• Mira Furlan (Martha Ellen Gray in the upcoming LANTERN CITY TV series)
• Jake Wyatt (cover artist of the SDCC variant)
• Thomas Willeford (creative collaborator)

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