The Loose End #3 Review

 

Writer & Letterer: Dave Dwonch

Artist: Travis Hymel

Colorist: Geraldo Filho

Editor: Charles Ardai

Cover Artists: Claudia Caranfa, Robert Hack & Travis Hymel

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 16, 2025

 

Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Steven Hollis fled a shootout with a mystery man bleeding out in the minivan. Then Dave Dwonch said Be Kind Rewind and took us back to Steven’s interview with Lucca Burlusconi. The crime boss offered to clear Steven's debt. He even threw in a free pliers manicure! All Lucca asked in return was to see Benny Blevins dead.

 

Now, Dave Dwonch takes us Back To The Future. The survivors of a drug den shootout want to disappear. Johnny Tarantula, the writer, director, and “best-looking drug mule in the western hemisphere," has a bullet in his gut. Tim's friend, Dickey, and Benny's Head of Security, Marcus Perkins, are dead. Will Steven, Diedrich, Tim, Benny, and Johnny survive Que Viva Mexico? And if Steven kills Benny, who will produce his screenplay about “the full Mexican experience?” Let's pack our roller bags, leap into The Loose End #3, and find out!

 

Story

Steven disapproved of Johnny’s taste for the sweet Cokecanya. So, when Johnny and the others sampled "the local flavor," Steven stayed in the van. In The Loose End #3, Johnny wants to conclude his El Dorado Assassins reunion with a hospital visit. Steven's childhood friend Diedrich, who he encouraged to pursue acting, directs Steven to one nearby. But when they arrive, the guys discover they've arrived at a veterinary hospital.

 

 

 

In Dave Dwonch’s fast-paced action plot, the boys feel their time in Mexico ticking away. Steven and the others soon learn that Señor Hernandez wants them dead or alive. The cartel general rules this region of Mexico, and everyone functions as his eyes and ears. So Steven, Benny, Diedrich, and Tim face a dilemma in The Loose End #3. Do they stand by their injured friend or flee for their lives?

 

While the deadly shooting on the set of “Rust” reminded us that accidents can happen, Dave Dwonch compares action heroes with their fictional counterparts. Diedrich, Tim, and Johnny garnered extensive firearms training in preparation for their movie roles. Yet, unlike police and soldiers, the actors aren’t thinking of the consequences of taking a life. Instead, defending their lives delivers the ultimate high as Diedrich, Tim, and Johnny emulate their big-screen heroes.

 

 

 

Art

A headshot left behind in Cisco and Jorge’s apartment gives Señor Hernandez a lead. The police officer’s sweaty face demonstrates the power wielded by the cartel leader. In his pink jacket, Diedrich looks even more of a poseur than he did on the flight to Mexico as he whips a gun around, then does a double take when a woman hides her face behind praying hands. Despite Tim’s continual worrying, he reacts coolly in a crisis. Travis Hymel uses cutouts instead of silhouettes to focus on people in crisis, whether questioned by a cartel general or pursued by his lieutenants.

 

 

 

Geraldo Filho lavishes bright colors on interiors and outdoor scenes. The exception is inside the van. Pink tinges the outside and blends with gray and white inside. The gray and faded tones imbue the Hollywood clan with a newspaper photograph appearance. Johnny proves the standout, shining with healthy skin and a green shirt. The Loose End #3 turns the tables on the Hollywood crowd, with Steven clad in gray while Benny, Diedrich, Tim, and Johnny all display bright colors.

 

Uppercase letters fill white balloons and colored narrative boxes. The words grow bold and italicized for intonation and shrink for lowered voices. Dave Dwonch’s sound effects help us hear displaced air, kicked-down doors, physical trauma, and gunfire as blood sprays and two lords of their domains say, "Don't mess with my boys." Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Steven's dilemma started with his addiction to gambling and Lucca Burlusconi’s demand he assassinate Benny Blevins. Lucca alleged that Benny raped his daughter on his casting couch. But despite actions that seem to support Lucca's assertion, Benny holds those around him in sway. His late bodyguard regarded him as a saint. His loyal talent worships Benny like an icon.

 

While the spotlight in The Loose End #3 shares time with everyone in his circle, Benny emerges as a leader. All this reminds us how hard it is to dislike people who care for their friends and produce the entertainment we enjoy. To paraphrase Blink 182, how can we punish people who deliver the best trip, bring us to the show, and carry us home?

 

Rating 9.4/10