Advance Review: ‘Benjamin’ #3 Versus Existence

Writer Ben H. Winters creates an ending that works, but may not please everyone since some might see it coming. Still, there will be certain readers who predict the ending and find it pleasing. This reviewer suspects there could be more of the latter type of reader than the former. Winters’s writing keeps his part of the characterization on point despite how the ending makes some of it seem a bit extraneous. Yet, without these extraneous-seeming moments, the book would be a lot less fun and the ending would be too obvious.

Artist Leomacs concludes this issue with an amazing visual moment that helps tie the narrative together in a surprising manner. Leomacs also gets to have some fun with a few clichés in Winters’s script. Despite these situations the lead characters find themselves in, Leomacs’s art style keeps things realistic and believable. However, one moment has a clear celebrity reference when it comes to a character design. Lastly, the line work shows a lot of confidence.

Colorist Luca Bertelè provides a beautiful array of hues. Some of the hues even look like Bertelè is using an airbrush for application despite that probably not being the case.

Letterer Becca Carey does a fantastic job with sizing the text to suggest differing vocal volumes. This reviewer feels that Carey deserves massive kudos for making even the odder moments of dialogue feel relatable via the selection of fonts.

The covers are by artists Christian Ward and Malachi Ward. Christian Ward’s design is epic in scope in terms of what it says about the interior narrative. Arguably, the version with a trade dress on the front is of lesser quality than the full art variant because of the positioning. Still, both versions are high quality. Malachi Ward’s piece may be smaller in scope, but it still suggests a great interior narrative. It also shows an expertise in depth via locations of the multiple heads.

Benjamin #3 comes out August 27th from Oni Press.