Hubris And Horror: ‘Rumpus Room’ #3 Review
by Olly MacNamee
Summary
High life, hubris and a hint of horror collide in the satirical ‘Rumpus Room’ #3 by Mark Russell and Ramon Rosanas. Cracks begin to show in the perfect world of billionaire Bob Schrunk. But, in his mind, he thinks he’s untouchable.
Overall
9/10With real-life millionaires and billionaires increasingly behaving like megalomaniac supervillains, it must be tough sometimes for writers to parody the already ridiculous and larger-than-life. But Mark Russell has never seemed to have that problem. And in Rumpus Room #3 we continue to witness the calm but crazy Bob Schrunk breeze through life with his own amoral philosophy that can only keep him afloat for so long. His whole empire seems to be built on a precarious house of cards and that’s not including the police who are sniffing around him in pursuit of missing people. He may seem in control, but as you will witness, it’s all a sham. Much like his appearance, which is all down to his special cream, courtesy of the prisoners he keeps hidden. Some of whom show their own calculated callousness in order to survive.
The slick, streamlined, high-end world artist Ramon Rosanas depicts so informatively looks beautiful with its high-end design aesthetic that hides a grisly and ugly truth underneath the shine. All peppered with the most ridiculous modern art that both writer an artist are having much fun with. These objet d’art are purposefully crass and over-the-top, implying a lot about Bob’s mindset and a reminder that money doesn’t buy you taste.
This is a tale of status and power, with those at the top wielding – and abusing – that power. And at all levels. Not just in the world of the 1%ers but also down below in the holding cells where our hero finds, Erica Hernandez, herself. But at least there is descent amongst the ranks in the shape of the steely and determined Hernandez, who still has a gun and her resilience, while all around her she is surrounded by prisoners who have all but given up. Which has led to an organised tribalism that shows that a heart of darkness is not just reserved for the very rich.
Russell enjoys poking fun at the pompous and profitable, and just as he did in his two Billionaire Island series, he does it with precision and satire. A good looking book with a great script, but with a creepy horror undermining it all.
Rumpus Room #3 is out now from AWA Upshot
