Review: ‘White Sky’ #3 Begins To Answer Some Questions While Posing New Ones

For any long-term story — whether it’s in comic books or other media — posing and answering questions is something of an art form. Answering questions too early can kill readers’ interest; answering them too late in the tale can cause the audience to lose interest.

The creative team behind White Sky has thrown plenty of questions at their readers in the first two issues: Why are mysterious ghosts terrorizing the remaining humans? What happens when the apparitions catch the survivors? And…well, why is the sky white?

Now, with the third chapter, they are beginning to answer a few. They aren’t critical questions, but they are enough to tease the reader. And even smarter, writer William Harms throws in a few new questions even as he answers others.

Harms also moves the plot forward in this issue. Violet and Walter continue their trek to San Fancisco to look for supplies. Violet’s dad David begins to plot his escape from the scavengers who brutally captured him. And we’re introduced to a few new characters who seem like they will play a larger role in future issues (those that survive this chapter, anyway).

Artist J.P. Mavinga makes the most of the script, illustrating a smart mix of double-page spreads, splash pages, and large panels. Mavinga doesn’t always sweat the details (it can be a particular challenge when the sky is white) but when he wants to show intricacy, he succeeds.

Harms and Mavinga make a good combination to tell a post-apocalyptic horror story like White Sky. We don’t necessarily know exactly where the story is headed, but if these first three issue are any indication, we can trust the pair to answer our questions at a good pace.

White Sky #3 — written by Willam Harms, illustrated by J.P. Mavinga, colored by Lee Lougridge, and lettered by Ed Dukeshire — is available now from Image Comics.