Share this
Alice Never After #3 – Boom! Studios
Creative Team: Dan Panosian, Giorgio Spalletta, Francesco Segala, & Jeff Eckleberry
Welcome to another New Comic Book Day review from the N.I. Bullpen!
Alice is back in the third installment of this fantastic series from Boom! Studios. In Wonderland, Alice’s friends are trying to marry her off, so that the new Queen of Hearts can have a King.
In real world London, Alice’s father and sister are both putting plans in motion, though, to exactly what ends is not entirely clear yet. Both have met with one of Alice’s former abusers and not everyone appears to actually want Alice well.
Instead of speculating and imagining, let’s get into the review for Alice Never After #3 from Boom! Studios.
Alice Never After # 2 Review HERE
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD**
Whose Idea Was This?
We begin with Alice still being proposed to be the many suitors that have arrived. One after another they make their offers and one after another Alice shoots them all down.
At a certain point, Alice has had enough with the whole affair. She demands to know whose idea it was for her to get married in the first place. She gets her answer.
Just then, who presents themselves to take credit for this “fantastic” idea? None other that the Cheshire Cat of course.
Intertwining Thoughts
We again see Alice and the Cat go back and forth about whether or not he is actually banished from Wonderland. During the argument, we see something…strange, even by the Cheshire Cat’s standards.
In the middle of the argument, The Cheshire Cat says “I just want you to be happy. Is that a crime? Your mother would have wanted you to be happy too!”
This sends Alice into a rage and she says “I saw what you did!” It’s then we see the Cheshire Cat slowly morph into Alice’s father, who when Alice was a child, was a dentist known for digging up dead bodies for their teeth to use in his practice. This included the body of Alice’s mother.
After morphing back to the Cheshire Cat, Alice finally storms off to her room. There she speaks briefly with Toad, and she says she misses her family, suggesting that Alice is in fact trapped inside Wonderland.
New Pathways
Back in London, Alice’s sister Edith is meeting with Doctor Madsen again, having brought him the items he had requested before.
He goes into a lengthy metaphor comparing Alice’s mind to a plant’s root system. If you block a root’s path to water, yet place the water close, the roots will find another way to the water without withering away.
He suggests that this is exactly what Alice’s brain needs to do, find a new pathway out of the stuck state she is in. He also suggests that, perhaps Alice is surviving just fine where she is now.
A Decision Has Been Made
After the Cheshire Cat and all the suitors but Sir Ostrich and Gilbert the Goldfish had left, Alice is speaking with Walrus. He informs her that she does indeed have to get married in order to give Wonderland a King.
She storms back into the throne room and kicks the remaining suitors out of the castle. She goes to another room to “blow off some steam” by breaking things and eating sweets.
When her friends go in to check on her, she proclaims that if she MUST get married then she knows who she will wed.
She says that she is only willing to marry one creature in Wonderland, and that’s The White Rabbit. As she is trying to discuss this choice with the Rabbit himself, she again doubled over in pain. Her friends call out for help, and of course, it is The Cheshire Cat who suddenly appears claiming he can help.
How Did This Happen?
Back in London, Alice is vomiting as well at the same time she is falling ill in Wonderland. When Edith calls for their father, he checks her stomach and determines that Alice is in fact pregnant!
Everyone involved seems genuinely surprised at this revelation. They begin to speculate who the father could be.
What does this mean for Alice? Who could the father be? Back in Wonderland, does the Cheshire Cat actually plan to help? Or is this yet another trick?
Need More From Boom! Studios? Click HERE
Story Review
Just when I think I have this story figured out, Panosian hits us with another twist to the tale. Alice’s health is affecting her in both realities and everyone around here has designs on her future path.
The fact that Alice has agreed to marry is astonishing by itself, but the fact that she has chosen the White Rabbit was a shocker. How is this going to play out and will the Cheshire Cat ruin everything yet again? Issue 4 is coming soon where we are sure to find out more!
Artwork Overview
Spalletta, Segala & Panosian are still firing on all cylinders with this series.
The differences between Wonderland and London leave no question as to where you are in the story. Each reality has its own distinct vibe.
The scene where The Cheshire Cat morphs into Alice’s father then back again is subtle and disturbing at the same time. It was a brilliantly executed scene.
Overall Score: 10 OUT OF 10 – “Must Pull”
This has officially claimed the title of my current favorite series coming out of Boom! Studios right now.
Everyone loves a good plot twist, and this series delivers exactly that in every issue! The story continues to build and with a brand new mystery now presenting itself, the remaining issues are sure to go out with a bang!
Make sure you grab a copy of Alice Never After #3 from Boom! Studios on new comic book day this week!
As always everyone Be Safe, Be Kind, and Take It Easy!
