Comic Review: Hellverine #3 – The Flame Has Burned Out

Unfortunately, Hellverine #3 is the weakest issue of the series so far. I'm reading it quite late because my comic shop never received it—and honestly, I don't feel like I missed much. With each new issue, the series loses momentum, and this particular one has solidified my decision that I won’t be following it any longer or pre-ordering future issues.

Repetitive Structure, But No Emotion

This issue almost replicates what we've already seen: Akihiro returns to a place from his past, people there are tormented by a demon, and he has to save them. That’s it. It's supposed to be a confrontation with trauma, but it's presented so superficially that it fails to resonate. There's no freshness, no real tension, no engagement.

Akihiro's Past – A Dull Retrospective

The majority of the issue is a flashback, which instead of deepening Akihiro’s character, ends up flattening him. We get a dry recap of past events with minimal emotional weight. As a result, the narrative feels empty and shallow, even though the themes should be intense and moving. What’s worse—it reads incredibly quickly, but leaves no impression.

No Action, No Atmosphere

Most disappointing is the complete lack of action. Even if the previous issue was slower-paced, it at least managed to build some atmosphere. Here, “things happen,” but it’s hard to care. For most of the issue, I felt like I was just flipping through pages without any investment.

The One Bright Spot? A Single Horror Scene

Just like last time, the only highlight is the scene where villagers describe the recent horrors. In that moment, the artwork shines—the monster is kept in the shadows, the tension builds well. Classic horror comic technique, and executed effectively. But that one good scene isn't enough to save the issue.

Hellverine #3 is a low point for the series. The narrative adds nothing new, characters remain static, and the pacing and lack of emotional depth make it hard to care. After a promising first issue, this marks the third consecutive drop in quality. And I can now say with confidence: I’m done with this title. I won’t be reading more, I’m not pre-ordering any more issues, and I’m not looking forward to the continuation.

Pros:

+Well-executed single horror scene

+Interesting world concept (but underused)

Cons:

-Empty, predictable narrative

-No emotion or action

-Dull flashbacks

-Repetitive structure

-Subpar art compared to previous issues