Advance Review: Swing Vol #3 OGN
The third installment of Swing is due to hit the stores in November. Considering what Dan and Cathy have been up to so far, You have to wonder what more can the pair try? Whilst the question is rhetorical, with many a sexual situation still not tried, there are still gardens that needs some care and attention.
By now, the titillation factor of this book should have worn off, leaving in its wake is a relationship that has found its feet much like any other relationship, regardless of the numbers involved. When the “fun life’ of Cathy and Dan invades Cathy’s “real life”, the secret she keeps threatens the stability of the pair. Trust, it seems, is the key to making love swing; can Cathy and Dan survive the unwanted third partner in their trysts? Ramifications are abound throughout this volume, with other choices carrying a weight that I suspect neither Cathy or Dan are ready for.
Matt Hawkins has carefully plotted out the various curve balls that Dan and Cathy have to face. In doing so, the relationship does seem a little one-sided with Cathy calling the shots and Dan kind of along for the ride. Is this really how this situation would pan out? With Hawkins doing a great job in bringing out the emotions of certain situations it does feel a little odd that Cathy doesn’t suffer many of the insecurities that Dan can sometimes feel. I would have thought that the thought of losing a partner to another person is real, regardless of the fact who is taking the more active role.  With Cathy taking Dan a little bit for granted; he is doing all this because he loves her, yet she doesn’t stop because she loves him; there is a feeling of off balance between the pair. The dialogue is as spritely and fun as the previous volumes; by now readers will have a good idea of who Cathy and Dan are.
Yishan Li returns as artist for the book. Under Li’s pencils, Cathuy and Dan remain pretty consistent of how we have seen them in the past. This time around Li, gets to highlight their kids are their presence makes more of an impact. As you would expect, there is quite a lot of nudity and various states of undress and lingerie, which is to be expected. It’s a hard line to walk between curvy, sexy characters and over sexulising, which is made >ahem< harder by the books topic. The book ahas a cartoony feel at times, which is at odds with the seriousness of the conversations that the couple must face. Even with all that going on, Li even manages to includes a couple of guest stars which fans of Linda and Stjepan Sejic may well recognise. Li’s colors have a kind of off pastel affair, maybe of a dream world or could that be the dream world of Cathy and Dan. Letterer Troy Peteri rounds of the creative team with a font style that doesn’t detract from the art or the action.
Matt Hawkins has clearly recognised that sex alone will carry this book only so far. By adding in more “real life” elements, Hawkins sows greater problems than insecurities and jealousies, adding a nuance to this sexy, sweet and emotional series.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Overall – 5 Stars
Written by; Matt Hawkins
Art by; Yishan Li
Letters by; Troy Peteri
Published by; Image / Top Cow
Author Profile
- I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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