Female Furies #3 (of 6): The Cost of Defiance

For a book that got off to such a clumsy start, Female Furies has done wonders to turn itself around and become a dark and twisted, must-read book about a society completely consumed by sexism, toxic masculinity, and the entitlement of an elite few. Aurelie’s struggle to break free of that cycle, which has included being told by her superior officer to shut up and take the abuse and being called a liar by her peers for daring to speak of it at all. And although it doesn’t wield its politics lightly, it serves as an ugly mirror held up to our own society’s worst instincts.

Cecil Castellucci’s use of Beautiful Dreamer as the catalyst for Aurelie finally deciding it’s time to break free of Apokolips may be a more than a little on-the-nose in terms of metaphoric imagery, but it works. It also highlights just how thoroughly brainwashed Apokolips’ women are; even when confronted with the irrefutable truth that she not only could have a better life but deserves one, she has a hard time accepting the cognitive dissonance between that and what she’s been told her whole life about her New Genesis “enemies.” I’d argue that it would work better if so much of this issue’s dialogue weren’t so stilted, but that’s a fairly minor argument.

It shouldn’t be too surprising that Aurelie ultimately winds up back on Apokolips after her escape, but what comes after genuinely is, a Game of Thrones-worthy twist that completely changes the makeup of the story. Bravo to Castellucci for having the guts to pull it off.

Adriana Melo’s art is a bit too threadbare in places for my taste, though. Too many panels without backgrounds, with otherwise well-rendered characters standing in limbo. It’s good art otherwise, though, with shades of Steve Pugh throughout. The issue’s climactic scenes between Aurelie and Willik are particularly devastating.