Image Comics’ Massiveverse has built itself upon the premise of taking a “real-life” approach to superheroics, which has been the thoroughline for all of its titles. From Radiant Black‘s approach to the millennial superhero to the recently released No/One delivering a true-crime thriller with a vilgilante at the center, these comics manage to actually tackle the concept of a superhero in the real world without resorting to the usual “grim and gritty” aesthetic that’s become a hallmark of said tales. Inferno Girl Red #3 continues that trend, as newfound hero Cassia Costa finds herself facing her biggest challenge yet.
When Inferno Girl Red #3 starts, Cassia is at her lowest point. She’s been defeated by the mysterious armored being known as the Griffin, and her mother’s been captured. Even worse, Apex City is about to be swallowed whole by the mysterious void it’s currently residing in. With the help of her newfound friends Lillian and Harriette, Cassia fights to save her mother while embracing the mantle of Inferno Girl Red.
The power of belief has been a prominent theme throughout Inferno Girl Red, and writer Mat Groom highlights it throughout this issue. It’s the belief that Cassia’s friends and mother have in her that allow her to keep fighting. And in a literal example, it turns out that faith is the source of her power as Inferno Girl Red. Groom’s message is clear: sometimes life will kick you in the teeth, but what matters is that you have the will to keep going. It’s a pretty fitting theme for a superhero narrative, and leads to an amazing moment within the issue that I don’t want to spoil.
The other half of what makes the book work is the artwork from Erica D’Urso and Igor Monti. D’Urso brings an anime-inspired influence to her work, especially when it comes to Cassia’s transformation sequences. Fire burns around her, transforming into her Inferno Girl Red suit – and to really hammer the point home, letterer Becca Carey delivers pronouncements such as “Belief ignites the conceivable – Inferno Girl Red.” Many of the Massiveverse’s creators have been open about the influence that tokusatusu have had on them; Groom’s even worked on other toku comics including Power Rangers and Marvel’s Ultraman saga. It’s only fitting that that influence continues in the artwork.
Monti even delivers the bright, vibrant colors that run throughout a toku show, even though half of the book takes place in darkness. His greatest feat is providing a visual contrast between Inferno Girl Red and the Griffin, letting their powers represent their beliefs. IGR is constantly surrounded by blazing red flames, representing a light in the seemingly endless darkness. The Griffin, on the other hand, is surrounded by purplish-black energy that embodies the endless void of space.
Much like its previous issues, Inferno Girl Red #3 is double the length of a usual comic, allowing the story to breathe while also setting up seeds for future tales. This also lets Groom write a bonus story, illustrated by Valeria Favoccia, that puts the spotlight on Cassia’s mother Ana. This story not only gives context to the main IGR storyline, but also explains why Ana has such unwavering belief in the heroine. Backup stories are a rare beast in modern comics, but IGR shows the value they can bring.
Inferno Girl Red #3 closes the book on one of the most engaging superhero origin stories I’ve read in years. While each book in the Massiveverse has its own flair and reasons worth reading, this is the title that I feel will appeal to everyone. Anime fans, toku fans, comic book fans…there’s truly something for everyone, and I hope Cassia Costa’s light burns for a long, long time.
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