Death of the Inhumans #3: You Are Forgiven

Fan-favorite writer Donny Cates continues his hard-to-stomach miniseries aptly titled Death of the Inhumans with a story of true desperation. So far, the series has held a sense of disbelief in tone, where something so terrible seems unreal until it finally hits home. The moment Black Bolt’s throat was slit, everything hit home for the Inhumans. Medusa’s tenacity is endearing, but knowing her efforts to ultimately be futile casts a sad shadow over their actions. These situations are really where Cates tends to shine, in my opinion, as the tension he creates in the foreboding sense of doom weighs on every panel.

The artistic direction continues an expected quality from an event at Marvel Comics, and aside from an occasional skewed character, the issue is gorgeous. Despite its simplicity, or maybe even because of it, the harsh black-and-white space panels that surround Medusa’s ship play into the nature of the situation she is in. This is life or death. The panel design, lettering, and coloring all contribute to this exploration of mortality in a unique way, making it a great book to look at overall.

One of the most intense sequences of the series so far comes from an unexpected exchange between Black Bolt and Ronan the Accuser. The single tear that runs down Ronan’s face throughout their brief discussion is a beautiful moment that is made tragic by Black Bolt’s final words to him, “you are forgiven”. It speaks volumes (no pun intended) about how good the series really is.

Finally, what would a comic event with “Death of…” in the name be without a major cliffhanger at every possible opportunity? After finally reaching Markus Centauri (a fun easter egg for those following Cates’ Cosmic Ghost Rider series), readers get quite a surprise when none other than Beta Ray Bill joins the fray to avenge his old pal Lockjaw. It looks like the fight is just getting started!