Review: Red Zone #3 (of 4)

The first two issues of Red Zone followed Dr Randall Crane as his former life as the United States’ leading secret agent in Russia came back to haunt him. Dr Crane was swooped out of his quiet existence as an NYU professor and forced into revealing a unique set of spy skills in nail biting fight for his life!

In Red Zone#3, what started as a standard cold war spy thriller flexes its action muscles, developing into an all-out battle fest! Things begin with the professor caught in the scope of a sniper’s rifle, and the action-based tension rarely stops from that point onward. Assisted by his mysterious remote assistant Dierdre, the professor focuses on safely getting himself and the enigmatic Nika out of Moscow. Red Zone pulls no punches as it ramps up the action, with Dr Crane forced to engage with increasingly aggressive enemies as he and Nika fight to survive as the details of his former life and association with Moscow unfold further.

Cullen Bunn is known for being one of the busiest writers in comics and has proven able to produce top-class work across various genres. Red Zone is another solid example of this. Bunn has created an authentic spy thriller, including all the expected hallmarks like fantastic fight scenes and dangerous car chases. The dynamic between the two main characters keeps the drama rolling along nicely and Dr Randall Crane is a worthy addition to the collection of classic uber-skilful hero spies.

Most impressive is how Bunn has developed a sense of history and background to the characters and the story in only a few short issues. The quick transition of the main character from teacher to James Bond at no point feels forced, and the unfolding tale in issue three creates neat suspense that makes its way to an exciting conclusion.

Helping to keep the story working is the fantastic art from Mike Deodato Jr that seems tailor-made for the fast-paced world of espionage-based action. The comic looks like a classy 60’s spy show, with a dark edge, assisted by amazing colors from Lee Loughridge, that holds the dramatic elements nicely until the action sequences race across the panels.

Overall, Red Zone doesn’t offer anything new. However, it’s pure entertainment and checks all the boxes if you’re looking for a thriller or action comic, especially of the spy variety.

Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Coloring – 4 Stars

Overall – 4 Stars

Written by; Cullen Bunn
Art by; Mike Deodato JR.
Colors by; Lee Loughridge
Cover art by; Razzah
Published by; AWA