Review – Fairlady #3 (Image Comics)

Things Are Getting Dicey for Jenner Faulds in Fairlady #3

Jenner Faulds is the first and only Fairlady of the land. She’s also exceptionally talented at her job. Unfortunately, part of her job involves getting into trouble. Not that this usually stops her; she seems to like trying to sort things out for herself.

In Fairlady #3, Jenner takes on a job where nothing is quite like it seems. And that usually means the job is more trouble than it’s worth.

This is quite possibly my favorite issue of Fairlady so far. Granted, we’re only three issues in, so that only means so much. There was a lot I enjoyed about this issue, and I think other fans would agree.

Writing

Brian Schirmer has done a great job of throwing various positions in Jenner Faulds’ path. It’s what has made Fairlady so enjoyable thus far. However, the challenge that Jenner comes up against in Fairlady #3 is by far one of the more fascinating ones to date.

This issue had one of the best introductions, as far as I’m concerned. The explanation of Jenner’s current job was entertaining and well written. I have to admit that I’m particularly fond of the original job description she was given – it’s an interesting idea.

The twists and turns that naturally followed Jenner accepting the job were unforeseen, but that made it all the more enjoyable. There were perhaps more moments of humor in this issue as well, but they were well balanced with some of the more somber tones provided.

It also seems like this might be the first plot that will carry over from one issue to the next. I’ll admit that this has me more than a little bit curious and excited. I’m looking forward to seeing what Fairlady could do with a longer-running plot.

Art

Claudia Balboni was the line artist for Fairlady #3, and you can tell that she enjoyed drawing this issue. There were lots of fight scenes and other unique opportunities in this issue. One of which was rather large and hilarious. The dramatic scenes were specially done in this issue.

Shari Chankhamma was the colorist for this issue, and I really like what she did here. The flashbacks were distinct from the present, thanks to the sepia tones she used. The sepia hues were vastly different from the typical color palette of the issue, which had a lot brighter tones snuck into what should have been a muted palette. I personally love this little mixing of colors.

Conclusion

The adventure of Fairlady just keeps getting more and more interesting as time goes on. This issue was the most complex one to date, and with good reason. The writing coupled with the art style makes for an immersive reading experience.

I mentioned above that Fairlady #3 had been my favorite so far, and I meant it. Everything that went into this issue was either brilliant, fascinating, or clever. There’s nothing for me to complain about, and in fact, I’m actively looking forward to the next issue of the series.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.