REVIEW: Dark Beach #3

Kickstarter“s favorite comic series is finally back with issue number three! Well, I“m not quite sure if it“s Kickstarter“s favorite comic series, but that“s where it“s being put into motion and it“s been a pretty damn good series so far, and that counts. So there.

We last left our main character Gordo varnishing a murder of another “sun freak”“ take place right before his eyes, and I“d be lying if I said it wasn“t torture waiting for the new issue to see what happens. As if seeing someone fry to death wasn“t bad enough, the murder is being pinned on him and there“s not many places a person in that position could run to. But there is always something, and for addict Gordo, that substance is called Ghost Choker: a suspicious purple liquid in a little bottle that blasts the sad away.

Seeing major weaknesses in a character always gives such a vast peek into who they are and what shapes them. A scene in this issue where Gordo goes to pick up his beloved Ghost Choker is one of the most telling scenes in the series so far, and for such a gruff and hardened person, we learn that while he tries his best to keep people away, he replaces human comfort with getting high and escaping. This issue really let the reader in on exactly how long Gordo has been running from certain aspects of life, and why he“s so good at escaping intimate situations and feelings.

Writers Michael J. Ruiz-Unger and Tucker Tota keep the story moving at the same satisfying pace that immediately draws the reader into this world of artificial sunlight and government cover ups. It“s so cruel but yet so fantastic, and the two writers are magnificent at timing without pissing us off by ending the issue in the most crucial places. I personally really dislike when I get really into a story only with it to end without answering any questions, and so many forms of media make this a habit that I just end my involvement with it, partially from disinterest but mainly from spite. Dark Beach doesn“t do that, and gives us just enough cake to wait for the frosting.

Sebastian Piriz“s artwork keeps its same beautiful flow in this issue, and scenes that have any sort of architecture really expose his expertise with different line weights. You want line weights? Have all the line weights! There are some lovely expressive faces in this issue, and we see characters differentiate from the stark contrast of either hardened and brooding or bright and overly cheerful. This is a particularly vulnerable issue for Gordo, and it“s delightful to see him so expressive.

Dark Beach makes a mainstay of contrast, it“s what the entire book is based on. The harsh bright artificial light in manufactured establishments meant to mimic beaches and other places versus the bleak darkness of the real world outside. Ray Jones is the perfect colorist for this, and his talent and the overall message of the story comes through in a way that makes you feel the fake temperature just rise off the page. My favorite instance of this is when Gordo spends a good amount of time under the influence of Ghost Choker, and we get a clear message of haze illustrated by a plethora of colors and textures. That“s another thing, Ray Jones isn“t afraid of texture and he“s so damn good at it, but doesn“t go overboard putting it on all the things.

I“m addicted to Dark Beach, and I love that it“s such an independently-made series. So far, it“s been nothing but enjoyable and I find myself completely falling back into the story, no matter the months that have passed in between release issues.

Story: 5 Stars
Illustrations: 5 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars
Colors: 5 Stars

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Written by Micael Ruiz-Unger & Tucker Tota
Inks by Sebastian Piriz
Colors by Ray Jones
Letters by JavierPuga

Check out the Kickstarter HERE