ADVANCED REVIEW: With Every Page Turn is a Twist in Dusk County Chronicles: Nightfall #3 (Spoiler-Free)

Dusk County Chronicles: Nightfall #3 is a finale chapter with a solid beginning and an excellent middle but an ending that needed more time to wrap up its threads satisfactorily. At times, the plotting can feel slapdash in how it resolves the story’s main beats and individual scenes. However, despite being constrained by its page count, the team shines by filling this issue with a wealth of excellent action, moments of horror, and emotionally resonant character beats that tug on the heartstrings with genuine humanity.

Without a doubt, the creative duo showcases their strongest abilities during the book’s halfway point. In a heavy action sequence involving a few werewolves introduced in earlier series issues, Roman Gubskii’s art flourishes with near-rhythmic dialogue.

It’s tense and brimming with dynamic panels, employing coloring tricks that make nearly every panel stand out. Speaking of the art, the exceptional quality of Gubskii’s background work is worth noting. It crafts the necessary atmosphere for this story to flourish, with each location featured in this issue being distinct yet tonally consistent. In terms of visual storytelling, Gubskii doesn’t miss a beat.

Joel Rodriguez’s writing shines when it lives in the moment. While the issue’s plotting is convenient and lacks depth in payoff, particular character conversations in this issue are expertly crafted. The issue’s significant action sequence is paced exceptionally, with integrated plot beats that are incredibly engaging. Similarly, a conversation between two characters in this issue serves as the series’ pinnacle of emotional catharsis, and it’s written with an exemplary understanding of human emotion.

Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives for this book, especially if art, atmosphere, and emotionally reactive consistency matter more to you as a reader than a tidy plot resolution. Given their page constraints, the team unquestionably does an outstanding job.