The Empty Man #3: Review

For those who prefer to use their comics as an entity for escapism, The Empty Man is not that type of entertainment. With its dour nature and disturbing subject matter, it is a challenging but rewarding read that delves into the toxic nature of our current cultural climate. One where a sweeping supernatural sickness is causing the world to fall into utter chaos. Within that chaos, underground forces are striving as the Empty Man has become a cultic figure driving people to do the unthinkable.

Although this is the third issue of this volume this is a continuation of a previous series. You can easily jump into this new installment without having read the previous series, however, it does help in contextualizing what is occurring especially with the characters of Monica Jensen and Owen Marsh. The heart of this arc has been more focused on the Kerry family as they have become a target for one of those underground forces called The Whispering Oracles. In this issue, they are making their major move as they invade Kerry“s neighborhood as they attempt to create a literal hell on Earth to appease the Empty Man.

Considering this is an issue consisting of mass murder and brutal torture one could question if this is simply an exercise in exploitation. Cullen Bunn is not the type of writer to construct a narrative full of violence for violence sake. He is a master of horror in all its forms. With Empty Man he and Jesus Hervas are constructing a tale where utter hopelessness its scariest feature, and how easily society can fall when given the right push. When a small average town is turned into a living hell it means that much more because its connection to our reality is tethered every so slightly.

Within that hopelessness, people are attempting to find meaning. Showing that what humanity longs more than anything is not peace but connection. Some of the more pointed social critiques seem out-of-place for this series like having the invaders use Presidental masks to hide their identity. For a series that has been more abstract with its commentary, it was a tad out-of-place.

What is not out-of-place is Jesus Hervas illustrations and the colors of Niko Guardia. Their work is key at making this series works as well as it does. Guardia“s color palette has a softness to it that keeps the violence level restrained and Hervas more sketchy line gives a more eerie atmosphere. Ed Dukeshire also shines with his lettering choices especially when it comes to sound effects. The honking of a car horn becomes the chorus for this night of anarchy.

Overall issue three of Empty Man is an unrelenting trip into the compacity of evil and the strength needed to survive it.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Jesus
Color Artist: Niko Guardia
Letter: Ed Dukeshire

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Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.