Raven #3

Overall, another great issue with such great art that THE dialogue is nearly frustrating in its interference sometimes. The next issue might be suspect " I have my reservations about the direction this series could possibly take " but this story seems to be in great hands. Here's hoping it can maintain the momentum it built so early. Read Full Review

I'm an impatient person. I'd really like more of the story to unfold a bit quicker. We've had two issues now just getting to know this evil being and still don't know much about it. Mind you, the story is still great but I'm so ready to see what's happening behind the scenes. Other than that fact this is my favorite installment so far. It's a great read. Read Full Review

All things considered, Raven #3 is a great middle-of-the-arc issue that moves the story along nicely. Wolfman's writing is excellent and Borges and Blond live up to their end of the bargain, delivering a rock-solid issue that fans of the character can enjoy. Read Full Review

I suppose the Christian stuff is there as a counterbalance to Ravens quasi-satanic nature. But Trigon is not meant to be Lucifer, and Raven is the daughter of a demon, not of the devil. For me, at least, it just adds to the factors in this book that are pushing me away from it. Read Full Review

A fairly weak start to the issue does conclude with a new wrinkle in the story, but since few of the extant wrinkles were ironed out, it's looking a bit disheveled. There's obviously some big connection between the disparate moving parts in this book, but three issues in my interest has waned. I think we should know more about what's happening by now. Now if this were a bi-weekly book, I might be singing a different tune. Read Full Review

The transition from team player to solo hero isn't always an easy one, and no lesser light than Kurt Busiek has said that there are characters who simply can't hold their own in single-hero stories, but thankfully this story makes it clear Raven can. Though there are a few issues with pacing/plotting, Raven #3 establishes a lot of character for Raven's friends and family, gives us a primer on her powers and abilities and makes it clear that she's a much better hero than she thinks. Read Full Review

Overall, this is an okay issue. The art is fantastic throughout both in the character moments and in the action. Everything looks great. Raven is well characterized and the book does have personality that stands out among all of the DC books right now. However, I think this story is being dragged out too long to its detriment which results in a somewhat boring issue. Read Full Review

Raven is a mini series, if you have picked up the first two issues you will have to pick up Issue 3 as well in order to carry on. I am staying invested in this mini series and hoping that the ending does it justice, only then can I give my full critique to the series. Read Full Review

Holyjiebus

Nov 21, 2016

Comic Book Review (6.5/10) "Okay," Raven #3 of 6 "The White Carnival Chapter 3: Soul. Self.," Writer: Marv Wolfman, Penciller: Alission Borges, Plot: The strange sphere of light is still sucking up people left and right and now Raven knows that the sphere is sucking up people to suck of their souls for power. Once the sphere is done with a person, the sphere spits them out. Why is the sphere afraid of Raven? This issue was a little better than the previous issue, but it still feels like the writer is forcing certain secrets to remain hidden so that he can reveal them in later issues. I say forced, because none of the story telling seems to be natural. For example, when Raven is transported back to the sphere in the middle of the night, she finds a dying person on the ground that says "you can't defeat us...your soul will be ours..." Somehow, Raven takes this little bit of information and figures out that the sphere is abducting people to suck up their souls and gain power, and all this information is told through her word bubbles. Does Raven also have access to people's souls as well as their emotions? What kind of information did the weak person's body or soul have that Raven was able to glean this information from the person now after going head to head with the sphere of light earlier? And why would the sphere that "fears" her bring her back to it? The book doesn't connect the dots for you and you are just forced to take Raven's words as the writer's voice for why things are happening. Borges does do a great job with the art, and some of these pages are great to look at, but the great art pieces fall flat due to the poor story-telling, and I feel that this is just a shame since her artwork is really cool. Her artwork has a nice sense of space and detail, but I feel like the wondrous and sometimes horrific artwork does not match the clunky dialogue. Such a shame. more