Trippy, weird, and filled with creativity, Spirit of the Shadows #3 continues the offbeat story of resurrection, witches, and musical-themed superheroes. Oni Press has one of the most unique stories on the stand, with the added benefit of popping with color and creativity thanks to Nick Cagnetti’s art. The last issue felt slow in its approach, but with Erik resurrected and out of the afterlife, things are heating up.
Daniel Ziegler’s plotting is a lot stronger in this issue, keeping you interested in the narrative while moving things along nicely. Spirit of the Shadows #3 opens where we left off, with Erik getting his bearings after Helena brought him back to the land of the living. At the same time, Elizabeth attempts to find Erik’s origin pages in the land of the dead, piecing together what happened to him.
Flashbacks continue to flesh things out, drawn in a different style that’s less pop and a touch more rudimentary. As in previous issues, when a character reads from the book, or in this case, finds a page, the story dives into those moments. That makes the flashback feel more present since a character is also taking in the reveals.
Ah to be resurrected multiple times.
Credit: Oni Press
They also advance the plot, as Erik explains to Helena how he was brought back to life the last time, revealing who is behind it all. That speeds things along nicely, sending Helena after the scientist who brought Erik back the first time. The collision of magic and science adds an interesting wrinkle as the villain progresses her plan.
While Helena realizes she had the right guy in a prior issue and rushes back to him, it feels a bit redundant; it leaves room for the creators to reveal details about Erik’s demise and rebirth. Given the cliffhanger, this is a story that tugs at disparate threads and keeps you guessing while building on what we know. This issue also has Erik find his mojo with his powers, which should amp up the superhero element next issue.
The beauty in this book is how it mashes together so many ideas, and while it isn’t simple by any means, it somehow works. From superhero powers to witches running about and flashbacks straight out of the Phantom of the Opera mixed with ’70s disco, there’s no mistaking that this book is wacky, weird, and hard to put down.
Spirit of the Shadows #3 finds its footing with stronger pacing and a clearer narrative drive while maintaining its signature weirdness. Daniel Ziegler pushes the story forward in meaningful ways, giving Erik’s return weight and setting up intriguing conflicts that blend magic and science. Nick Cagnetti’s art remains a major draw, bringing the book’s offbeat tone to life with bold color and inventive layouts. It may still be juggling a lot of ideas, but the issue shows growing confidence and delivers a reading experience that is both strange and exciting.
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