In old Texas, life is unforgiving. A preacher’s family is destroyed by bandits. The patriarch is dead. His widow is now taken by the remorseless grifters. Only their three young boys are left standing. With nothing left, they embark on a dangerous revenge quest. What they find along the way will make them grow up quick or become a forgotten memory of the wild west.
THE BLOOD BROTHERS MOTHER #3 by Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, and Jared K. Fletcher continues their western thriller.
Let’s see how this finale birngs the house down!
THE BLOOD BROTHERS MOTHER #3 by Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, and Jared K. Fletcher (DSTLRY)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The saga of Daniel, Simon and “Jack Rabbit” Blood has taken many turns since their journey began. Azzarello weaves the boys through the grind with the treacherous landscape tying to swallow them up. This is a well-structured Western. For this issue, the writing takes them into the heart of the drama with great results.
As the boys come across the mysterious Mad Owl, their luck begins to turn. The moments with Owl and Jack gives a sense of connection as both have dealt with loss. This pushes all parties into their search for vengeance. With the boys being very naive, one bad call causes the paths to split. This leads into a new dynamic for the parentless family.
All the while, more is revealed involving their “mother” Anna. The connection with Carter Cain becomes more cloudy as her situation starts to spill over. Once Ed Percy comes into play, the whole dynamic shifts. The writing hones in on the overwhelming stakes at hand. It never escapes readers with the tension rising each page. Once the resolution becomes clear, pacing slows down to focus on a bittersweet close. It hits readers with a strong gut punch as a choice is made that changes everything. The ending is fitting as it ties up some ends while leaving the audience with much to ponder.
Risso presents the dangers of the west with phenomenal visuals. The sequence with Mad Owl caps off with a strong two page image. It sets a haunting impression as the brothers push forward. The watercolors add so much to this scene and book. Risso plays into changing direction with how the pallet changes.
A prime example of this is when Carter meets with his uncle. The darker panels not only reflect the night but the brooding tone he carries. It is also seen when the brothers travel in daylight. Purple is the coloring over them as the bright fields shine around them. Risso makes the characters pop out of the panels when needed. Flecther’s lettering rises to the occasion as the gunfire takes off.
The art covers the range of emotions in this book. Readers never lose sight of the uneasiness of the West. This plays into the closing pages. As a choice is made, the panels capture the sadness around the narration. It leaves the chapter with a heartbreaking pause until we see these characters again.
FINAL POINT: 9.4
In this installment of the gritty western drama, choices become deadly. Azzarello’s writing never lets readers escape the harsh reality of revenge. Risso’s art is a magnificent compliment to the tough road ahead for the family shattered. Excellent storytelling.
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