Savage #3: Lonely At the Top

On numerous occasions I’ve praised this book for properly balancing humor and action, #3 doesn’t break from form but I think the important part of issue #3 is how it makes the familiar not seem mundane. Let’s be real we all knew by page 1 there’s no way Savage would actually ride off into the sunset and leave so many plot threads unresolved right? But that isn’t the part that matters what matters is despite knowing the prodigal son story we’ve heard since Jesus shared the parable 2K and some change years ago, the emotional moments that bring Kevin back into the fold are what count.

Through the power of montages, we get some absolutely stellar panels of Savage just being Savage. Whether he’s killing snakes, doing a kick flip off the side of a miasma or recreating Wilson all of it is energetic and beautifully rendered. The combination of Nate Stockman’s raw kinetic art with masterfully crafted color choices is worth the read alone. Look at each panel and the alternating cool and warm vibes delivered by Triona are just completely on point. Even the choice of teal/purple contrast as the monsters begin attacking the beach is subtle yet striking.

There’s also an inherent fierceness to Stockman’s art that is magnified by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s vivacious lettering. The action sounds are alive, the dialogue is punchy when it needs to be and even the monsters having a little tete in the middle of a fight with Savage amongst themselves shows inspired lettering choices, making hilarious yet fantastic moment exemplified with well crafted symbols instead of grunty thought bubbles.

All of these elements play their part to show us Kevin’s journey from enthusiast for isolation to remembering he’s just as human as the people he’s failing to connect with. I mean I know ya can’t plan for a pandemic like this but surely few other themes coulda been this topical and well timed as we trudge through year 2 of this thing. It is those kinda subtle moments that truly makes this book worth a read and a reread while also making the insane reveal that Kevin’s own brother is in fact the big bad here even that more impacting.