Connect with us
Middlewest Vol. 3
Image Comics

Comic Books

‘Middlewest’ Vol. 3 review

Ending on a high-note, ‘Middlewest’ is one of the best titles from Image today.

Since November 2018, Middlewest has been writer Skottie Young and artist Jorge Corona’s mixture of midwestern America and outlandish fantasy, telling a coming-of-age tale about a boy escaping abuse and toxicity. The farther Abel is from home, the more he learns of his family history as his abusive father was also abused his own father. As the family shares the terrifying transformation into a storm monster, Abel is left crippled and goes into his own form of self-isolation amongst a number of kids who are kidnapped and enslaved to work at the Raider Farms.

Elsewhere, Maggie and Jebidiah rally a crew to rescue the kids, but they need to be quick — Dale literally storms away to reach his son. Opening this volume with a flashback showing Abel’s life before it went to hell as he starts off delivering papers, his family life slowly deteriorates, from his mother leaving to his father becoming violent. Cutting to the present day where Abel is forced to do a job that is more hazardous, Skottie Young cleverly mirrors that sense of escape from the past, only to return in worsening circumstances.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

Right from the start, Middlewest plays like an American fairy tale in that it explores the fears of preparing for adulthood, not only from Abel’s central dilemma, but also the other imprisoned children sharing their own stories of horrible parents. The standout of the supporting characters is Jennie, who has the attitude and the best dialogue, as well as having a tragic backstory, which is about wrestling with both her sexuality and role as a preacher’s daughter. Although the children toast their drinks with a classic “f*ck adults”, it doesn’t negate how cool the elderly wizardry of Maggie and Jeb is.

As this volume covers the final six issues, the creators aim to go big as they take their time before the epic battle commences, with different factions of players slowly clashing into one another. The children led by Abel have their own means to escape, while Maggie and her townspeople pummel their way through a hellish storm to reach the Raider Farms. The sense of grandeur could’ve easily detracted from the intimacy we like from these characters, but the creators never fall into this trap and are able to resolve everyone’s arc without having to conclude with a shallow extravaganza.

I have always praised the world-building of Middlwest, which continues to expand in Vol. 3, from the menacing gas-masked guards that patrol the Farms to Maggie and his group tearing apart their cars and trucks and turning into boats. With an art style that is very cartoony from the characters to pulp-styled machines, Jorge Corona puts so much detail on every page that the world he’s depicting feels huge, only to be enhanced by Jean-Francois Beaulieu’s multi-layered coloring.

The Verdict

Ending on a high-note, Middlewest is one of the best titles from Image today, thanks to its combination of American midwestern fantasy and a coming-of-age narrative that is both dark and heartwarming.

Middlewest Vol. 3
‘Middlewest’ Vol. 3 review
Middlewest Vol. 3
Ending on a high-note, Middlewest is one of the best titles from Image today, thanks to its combination of American midwestern fantasy and a coming-of-age narrative that is both dark and heartwarming.
Reader Rating0 Votes
0
Exploring the complicated relationship between children and adults through the dark tropes of fairy tales.
Resolving everyone’s arc to satisfying effect, most importantly the central father/son dynamic.
Cartoony, but incredibly detailed artwork and coloring from Jorge Corona and Jean-Francois Beaulieu.
This will be the last time we’ll see these characters and their world.
9.5
Great

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Marvel Preview: Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1 Marvel Preview: Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1

Marvel Preview: Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup