Something’s off with the eyes this issue. It never looks like people are looking where they’re supposed to be looking. Otherwise, McManus and Pepoy do a fine job.

This issue—and the last one—are narration free as Willingham turns Thessaly into the main character (she was the subject in the first issue and shared the spotlight in the second). He has to change things up so he can come up with his multiple surprises this issue.

He does a good job of giving that change in narrative device an organic feel. This issue he takes it even further in regards to pacing. It’s mostly summary. He has characters talking about their actions after the fact, providing brief narration while McManus does a couple panels or a full page spread to work with the words.

Unfortunately, the last page isn’t quite perfect and it needs to be.

Still, great work.

Willingham does a good twist and cliffhanger this issue. It’s especially funny since he sort of mocks any reader—like me—who fell for it in the dialogue. It’s nice how he can work on both layers.

I sort of remember this one—when Barry Allen guest stars in a great panel. But definitely not the end.

Pepoy’s back on inks and he and McManus do another lovely job. The second and third page are a double-page spread of a garden and seeing McManus’s work on such a big scale… he really does have a great touch for scenery too.

The issue’s smart and funnier than usual. There’s a sequence where Thessaly takes the reader (and her sidekick) through all the clues. Some the reader might have gotten, others probably not. It’s a nice layer for Willingham and McManus to incorporate.

It’s an excellent little series, pleasant and intelligent.

Willingham is still writing a little fast. This issue’s better, but it’s really just four conversations—three of them involving the same two people (protagonists Thessaly and Fetch). The conversations are good and amusing but they only sort of move the story along. Willingham has this idea of a question, with guardians. Moving past a guardian moves the story along. Thessaly gets passed two this issue (so, just like before, it’s hard to imagine how Willingham has enough story for three issues).

The issue also opens weird. Willingham has two layers—one with the action, then another with Fetch’s narration (actually, it appears to be Fetch talking, Thessaly just isn’t responding). It takes maybe three pages for it to start syncing and working and the scene’s over by the fourth or fifth page.

So, a little bumpy, but still charming.

McManus is still great (Pepoy does slightly change the art).