Book Review: Warlash Dark Noir – Issue 3

WARLASH: DARK NOIR No. 3 (COMIC)
Written by Frank Forte, Royal McGraw
Artists: Szymon Kudranski, Frank Forte, Aly Fell, J.C.Wong
Letters: Frank Forte, Royal McGraw
Editor: Elizabeth J. Musgrave
Published by Asylum Press

Publication Date: 2009
Format: Color / B&w – 48 pages
Price: $2.95

Rocket’s Red Scare” pits Warlash against a biogenetically engineered villain who goes by the name of Trotsky De Sade, the crazed leader of the Gene Communist Militia. De Sade is a Neo-Cold War menace who has taken the form of Joseph Stalin to try to wreak havoc upon the capitalist pigs of Pittsburgh. Can Warlash and his new ally Vigil stop him? Or will De Sade be allowed to unleash his stalinococcus virus on an unsuspecting populace? In “A Touch of Deadly”, a neo-noir tale, Warlash is deceived by a sexy D.A. to uncover a murder of an old Black Ops buddy. The plot thickens Warlash uncovers a Russian cyborg smuggling ring. Wrtiiten by Frank Forte and illustrated by Szymon Kudranski. This issue concludes the “Phlegm Fatale” storyline wherein Warlash battles a biogenic beast in the sewers below Pittsburgh, but the battle is not over even after the beast has been destroyed.“

Artwork: 4.0 out of 5
Fantastic artwork! This issues shines. I have praised the issues over at Asylum Press before and this book will join those ranks. The drawing styles are dark and muddy and they just add so much depth to the stories. The coloring is what makes it shine the most. The cover draws you into this unique world of dirt and grime that is easy to fall in love with. Amazing job by everyone.

Story: 4.0 out of 5
What I love about the Warlash: Dark Noir books is the way they get you into the stories. The combination of detective/hero/fantasy just draws me in. The writing styles shine in this issue. I highly enjoyed the first story only to have it end on me while I needed more. The other two stories that follow are just as interesting. The writing is what I expect to get from this book. By that I mean, just looking at the covers for this series, you can get a sense of what is inside these pages. I am so hooked on what’s going on with this character it drives me nuts that it doesn’t come out more often.

Dying Breath: 4.0 out of 5
It can’t be easy to cross genre’s the way it is done here. This is a noir book that dips into horror, fantasy and heroism, and delivers on all of those levels. The artwork alone is enough reason to buy this. You won’t be let down with the stories that have accompany them either. All around this is what I want to read every time pick up a comic book. Amazing job.

If you would like to buy Warlash: Dark Noir #3 or find out more about Asylum Press please go to http://www.asylumpress.com/