The kaleidoscope artistry of Sai: Dimensional Rivals continues this week in issue #3, and the new artists involved couldn’t be better. Joining Peach Momoko are Elena Casagrande, Bengal, and Mike del Mundo, three creators with multiple Eisners among them. Tasked with connecting their stories and also delivering satisfying mini tales, this series continues to be the most inventive anthology comics have delivered in years.
If you’re unfamiliar with this series, whatever you do, don’t start with this issue. The issue opens with Sai in a strange alternate dimension, picking up where Natacha Bustos left off. She sees Sleeper, and in its head is the Infinity Stone she’s after. You can tell Casagrande is going for a slightly Bustos-style with refined, but less detail. In a cool double-page splash, Casagrande sends Sai through a portal into a sky filled with floating islands. The look and feel is akin to an anime, making for a fun chase between Sai and the symbiote cat.
Casagrande’s use of layout paces the last two pages of her story quite well, while also delivering far more story, even if it’s without words. Instead, it’s a fun chase that ends in bright light.
Freaky mask, lady.
Credit: Marvel
From there, Bengal takes over, bringing Sai face-to-face with a mysterious masked figure. Between the trippiness of the “forever” battle and the sword fighting, it’s a satisfying battle. Bengal leans into a thinner, more refined line work that maximizes every slash of the sword.
Contrary to the first tale, Bengal ends the tale in darkness, adding some symmetry to the reading experience.
After another trippy transition, Mike del Mundo takes over, and it’s immediately obvious due to his rich color, attention to detail, and volume. His story opens with a Sentinel head that houses an egg in one of its leaves. After a page turn, the egg hatches a caterpillar, who is immediately cute and also kind of odd. It’s equal parts Sai and Sesame Street. It’s a bizarre turn for Sai, to say the least, that’s equal parts cute and strange. Just wait until you see Sai the caterpillar pull up its chrysalis like a blanket!
Simply put, any kind of del Mundo sequential story is a real treat, given that they mostly draw covers these days.
Momoko closes out the issue back in feudal Japan. Acting as a kind of reset, we’re reminded of Mochi’s task for Sai and her blue beastly friend. Fittingly, Momoko ends the tale with a bizarre twist for Sai and a rather haunting cup of tea.
Sai: Dimensional Rivals #3 continues to stand out as one of the most daring anthology comics on the shelves. Each artist delivers a unique visual and tonal experience, yet the issue maintains a connective thread that keeps it from feeling scattered. While the story may lean abstract and require prior knowledge, the sheer creativity on display makes it a rewarding read for those already invested. This series thrives on experimentation, and here it pays off in bold and beautiful ways.
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