Reviewed by Jorge Solis. The nail-biting suspense builds as the vivid imagery takes hold in Southern Cross #3. The third installment continues to prove why the series is an incredibly enjoyable reading experience. As a cerebral and existentialist mystery, “Southern Cross” demonstrates what happens when story and art work perfectly side-by-side.
WRITTEN BY: Becky Cloonan
ART BY: Andy Belanger
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: May 13, 2015
In the vastness of outer space, Alex Braith just witnessed something frightening coming after her. In the dark and empty hallways of the spaceship, Alex is on the run from the dead man lurking in her room. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know if it was actually a warning, or just a hallucination. Space could be playing tricks on her mind. Or someone onboard is actually trying to kill her.
I love how writer Becky Cloonan develops the main character’s backstory by giving her a flashback. Keeping the memory from Alex’s point-of-view, the reader questions if the main protagonist is actually revisiting her childhood. Does Alex wish she had a happy childhood with her sister? Has something traumatized her that she needs to recreate a memory?
I enjoy the scenes where Cloonan gets to express Alex’s strong personality. There is a feistiness to Alex’s punkish attitude, but she’s not afraid to show off her vulnerability. The side characters are also slowly being developed. From the doctor to the chef, they act like blue-collar workers trying to make through the end of the day.
One of my favorite images from Andy Belanger is when Alex finds herself at the center of a circle full of windows. Everywhere she looks, Alex just sees a sea of stars. In another panel, when Alex looks at her reflection,the depiction illustrates the point as to why she is getting some sort of sea-sickness in outer-space.
Highlighting the awfulness of the food, colorist Lee Loughridge’s vividly paints the cafeteria scenes in greenish tones. Capturing the eerie atmosphere, Loughridge switches to a blue shade when Alex is staring at a computer screen in a climatic scene.
“Southern Cross” #3 continues to be an awesome read. When’s the fourth issue going to get here?