E-Ratic #3 is a good time, despite the main character not being in the first half of the book at all. The writing may be setting up too many complications and future plot lines, however.
There are a few boxes that every great hero tale needs to check off: a decent origin story, relatable characters, a cool but complex villain, and of course conflict. I’m sure I’ve missed a few others, but E-Ratic as a whole has done a good job thus far with encompassing those qualities.
SPOILERS AHEAD for E-Ratic #3!
The last time we saw Oliver Lief, he was being hoisted away by a bug-eyed masked man, and we didn’t know whether he was friend or foe. We still don’t know. E-Ratic #3 gives us way less Oliver and more of his paranoid classmate, Kristen, who spends most of the book trying to figure out what happens to Oliver. Another plot point is set in motion involving a teacher hypnotizing students.
We do get some questions answered, but at the same time, new ones are planted. What E-Ratic gets right is displaying the burden of being endowed with power and responsibility you didn’t ask for. The dynamic of trying to juggle family drama with school and maintain a social life and identity. But the only thing that is a little shaky at the moment is build up between villains in the story.
Now I could be jumping the gun and everything could end up connecting beautifully, but going into issue #4, my only concern is that E-Ratic doesn’t stack an unbelievable amount of problems against a superhero whose powers only last for ten minutes. Despite that, E-Ratic #3 moves the story forward in a positive light with another great cliffhanger.
The art remains inspiring, engaging, smart, funny, and excellent for the tale being told. The transitions from panel to panel create some very solid storytelling. It’s all about the facial expressions here, and Kaare Andrews spares no expense to deliver some detailed and distinctive character emotions. Some of the coolest, most noteworthy moments involve Oliver running into a place called The Void — you’ll know when you see them.
E-Ratic #3 is a fun time and makes you even more curious to see where everything is headed. E-Ratic has the potential to be an awesome ongoing comic book series. The art is cool, the story continues to build momentum and I’m excited about the next issue. Make sure to snag yourself a copy during your next trip to your local comic shop.
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