Behemoth has put its human cast of characters through a lot. Not only have them been swallowed whole by a massive kaiju, but it turns out said kaiju is infested with bloodthirsty parasites that’ve claimed one of their numbers. Behemoth #3 offers a ray of hope in Etienne, a young Frenchman who’s managed to survive the horrors within the kaiju’s belly. But as our survivors learn, the parasites might not be the only monster lurking in the shadows.
I admit that I was kept on my toes with Behemoth #3, because you never knew what to expect. One minute you think everyone is out of danger, and the next reveals that isn’t the case. Grant Sputore and Ryan Engle keep the tension bubbling until the very end, thanks to some really great pacing. But where Sputore and Engle shine is the character work. There’s a moment later in the scene where the survivors get to take a breath and actually speak to each other, and it offers more depth into the actions they’ve taken so far in the book.
My favorite interactions are between truck driver Sara and another passenger, Charles, as well as passenger Ayako and a kid who lost his mother. Ayako confesses she wished to be a mother, which explains why she’s been defending this boy with her life. Sara and Charles connect over their goals, or rather, Charles encourages Sara to try and pursue her dreams. These moments stand out almost as much as the characters fighting for their life, and future monster movie makers should definitely read this comic if they want a crash course in how to make their human characters appealing.
Dark Horse
That doesn’t mean Behemoth #3 skimps on the action – Jay Martin draws an action-packed opening. The very first page features our survivors running from the parasites, who remain freaky as ever, transitioning into a massive double-page spread that’s a delight to look at. Everything from the roiling waves, to the flames surrounding the parasites as they leap at our heroes, to the bright red flesh of the creature’s stomach, is given a minimalist approach but maximalist detail under Martin’s pencils and colors.
The standout moment of Behemoth #3 comes in the final pages, which feature a samurai battling against the same creature that’s terrorizing the world. Not only does this hint at how ancient the creature really is, but it also sees a shift in Martin’s artwork, as he draws imagery that resembles a traditional woodblock painting., Further adding to this feeling is Frank Cvetkovic’s lettering. Cvetkovic letters these pages in Japanese, meaning that if you read Japanese you’ll have a deeper insight into the scene and if you don’t, the characters’ facial expressions will clue you in.
Behemoth #3 balances character work with plenty of thrills as the series moves toward its final issue. Judging from how this issue ends, the creative team has saved the best – or the most insane – twists for last. Either way, I eagerly await that final issue.
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