No Mercy #3
Written by Alex De Campi
Art by Carla Speed McNeil
Colors by Jenn Manley Lee
Published by Image Comics
So much seems to happen in No Mercy, it’s surprising it isn’t filled with more pages than other books. At the same time, the storyline is simple enough to really make the reader connect with the characters and want the moral ones to succeed. This issue is simple enough: Chad and Charlene are trying to escape from the coyotes while stranded in the bus. They’re aided by The Quiet Kid, who we learn is named Anthony, and everyone’s favorite modern hippie, Travis.
On the bus, we discover just how strained the relationship between Chad and Charlene truly is. As we’ve seen in the previous two issues, Chad has no issue with only doing what’s best for him. In this issue, we see that Charlene isn’t too different; albeit, she was pushed to the brink by her brother. We also learn that Anthony can speak Spanish pretty well and walk 20 miles to town. Unfortunately, Sister Ines has decided it’s a good time to pass away. Hopefully, Anthony can communicate the dire straits his which his fellow travelers are entangled.
No Mercy #3 is another great issue crafted by Alex De Campi. Although the pages aren’t littered with words, the overall mood set by De Campi is fantastic. Three issues in, and the book has already gone from feeling like something that’s been done before to something wholly original. The originality is helped by the art by Carla Speed McNeil whose characters are different enough to be compelling but similar enough to still be seen and young and dumb adults. The colors by Jenn Manley Lee bring everything together. The contrast between dark and light is used to great effect. As it usually seems, all the terrible things happen in the night, but by daylight things can seem much better than they actually are.
No Mercy is on a trajectory for greatness. This books is unique enough and from a perspective that makes the reader wonder what will happen next. The players are dropping one by one, when the ship rights and the strong are left the real carnage will begin.