Roku #3 (of 4): Let’s Get On With It, Then.

We’ve retraced her origins and established the character as someone who can hold her own series, even introduced a brand new villain, but Roku #3 brings everything together. In just three issues the creative team has put Roku in a pivotal situation that could determine her path in the Valiant Universe.

Cullen Bunn has crafted an intriguing story with this deadly character, bringing Ember-1 in and introducing the Minister of Blades, but he’s also given a core voice to Roku that feels significant. The series hits all of the expected notes with it being her very first solo outing, but the only way it can really be successful is if it builds on the characterization with depth and purpose. This story does that in spades. Roku is a character you can get behind even knowing her complicated past because of the character work done in this story.

Marybeth might be the core of the motivations for why these characters are being brought together, but they each explore an important aspect of who Roku is as an individual. Roku #3 continues to touch on her origins as she clashes with Ember-1 and tries to rescue Marybeth, making it interestingly informative.

While Cullen Bunn does a great job at bringing all of the narrative threads together in an enjoyable way in Roku #3, it only works with the great artwork from Ramon F. Bachs and Stephane Paitreau. The visuals help to not only enhance the dangerous world around Roku, but also to develop her as a character through her expressions and dynamic movements. It’s a great example of the writing and artwork coming together to help the reader get more familiar with the character throughout the story naturally. It also helps to have such solid letters from arguably the best in the business today, Dave Sharpe. It all just works.

Roku #3 could be the best issue yet in the series with it’s strong scripting and visuals. It’s not brooding or complicated, just awesome action-packed violence with strong character work for the titular anti-hero or otherwise. I’m still personally hoping for a more significant connection to the larger Valiant Universe now that the character has been so firmly grounded, but even if that doesn’t happen, this is a series that is well worth your money.