The Scourge is
almost what I’d call a guilty pleasure comic. Everything about it is
very similar to any B-movie disaster or action flick you’ve seen
with characters that aren’t very deep and well developed and a
storyline you could probably predict the whole way through after
only reading the first few pages. Now while all that sounds like it
should work against The Scourge it doesn’t. There’s something
to its simplicity and mindless action that makes it an enjoyable and
quick read.
The virus that turns ordinary people into
mindless monsters hell-bent on killing others is spreading through
Manhattan like wildfire. While danger is everywhere the one thing on
NYPD cop Jon Griffin’s mind is finding his son and getting the hell
out of dodge. Jon tracks his son down to the theatre where he is
with the rest of his class, but the creatures tormenting Manhattan
are everywhere so Jon needs to find his son fast.
Reading The Scourge #3 you’ll recognize a
lot of the beats in the story. Completely spoiling the story would
be wrong, but when you read it you’ll understand. That ability to
pre-empt the story is also some of the fun. It feels so familiar yet
until it happens you’re never quite sure and could always be
surprised by the unexpected.
Jon is joined is his struggle by his son’s
teacher and to be honest she can be a little annoying. She’s that
character who never seems to listen when told something yet her
inability to listen is somehow helpful as she ends up tagging along
for the ride. Jon is also joined by a maniac cab driver, so like
most action and disaster flicks we have a nice little group dynamic
going on. It was also kind of cool listening to Jon explain that if
he wasn’t stuck in Manhattan he would have no qualms with it being
blown up, he’s a realist who understands the seriousness of the
situation but screw it all if it means he’s going to die in the
process.
The Scourge is
never short on action and issue 3 is very much the same. Jon never
misses an opportunity to showcase how much of a badass he is,
disposing of infected with ease and in true action film style there
are a few explosions and car chases as well that are all drawn and
colored very well.
A lot of The Scourge #3 depends on your
love of popcorn action flicks that are low on characterization and
story, but high on guns and explosions. The story is familiar,
almost predictable but that means it’s an easy almost fun read that
offers pure action bliss without masses of confusing dialogue and
plot points. A guilty pleasure that’s worth a pick-up for some
explosive fun.
