Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #3: Write THAT In Your Paper

Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #3 picks up with Jimmy Olsen’s arrival in Smallville. Full of the same shenanigans as the first two issues, Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #3 proceeds with a flawless momentum that maintains the tone and comedic nature in an uncanny way. This is one of the Dawn of DC titles to sadly be flying under many people’s radar; however, its sales are contrasted with the outstanding consistency that makes the low stakes, character driven narrative that is destined to make this a hit once it is collected in trade.

Joanne Starer continues to knock it out of the park with the writing here. Much like the first two issues, there is a clear sense of knowledge about the greater DC universe that is apparent throughout every line of dialogue. Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #3 specifically breaks into the history surrounding Jimmy Olsen, using the discussion around his history to inform a lot of what happens with his character throughout the issue. The greater story also rears its head towards the end of the issue, establishing a fun mystery that is tied to Ice’s roots. Overall this is a great example of how a vast knowledge of the world these characters live in can create a very well written issue.

Natacha Bustos’s pencils continue to service the narrative well, firmly establishing the tone that allows the shenanigans to fit in this world in such a wonderful way. Bustos’s pencils really harken back to the levity that made the late Kieth Giffen’s Justice League International series such a breath of fresh air. This momentum of tone and levity allow this series to breath well on its own as well, establishing a tone that is unlike anything else DC is putting out. This also allows Bustos to draw images that reflect the adult animation-like maturity that this kind of comedy reflects.

Tamra Bonvillain rounds out the art team with colors, giving this series even more of that adult animation-like feel. Everyone has colors that pop in such unique ways, really highlighting the differences between all of these colorful costumes. This also creates a sense of contrast between the low stakes, character driven story, and the fantastical, larger than life characters within. Overall, Bonvillain adds something special to this series that creates a very fun dynamic between the art and the subject matter.

Rounding out the creative team is Ariana Maher, who, as always, creates a very consistent, strong foundation within the lettering. Much like the pencils and colors, the letters add to that sense of tone that truly conveys what Starer is saying with the story.