Royals #3 – Brothers and Fathers

What do you get when you find a way to out-hustle the hustlers? You get Royals. Paul and Castor Wahng are twin brothers with a telepathic connection. They use that connection to win at poker. One day they decide to take a shot at the big game. Playing in a televised poker tournament in South Korea, the brothers cheat and win the tournament. Unfortunately for them, Daeshim Kang, the leader of the fearsome criminal syndicate, The Bloody Cocks, is a victim of their swindle. Captured by Kang and forced to reveal their secret, the twins are forced to perform a heist for Kang after Castor blew their winnings. A quick in and out, right? Maybe, but what happens when the brothers are charged with stealing one of the most valuable relics is Seoul from someone they know?

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!

Did you miss Royals #2?

Creative Team

Writer: Derek Kirk Kim
Artist: Jacob Perez
Cover Artist: Jacob Perez

Writing

Andddddddd breathe. Derek Kirk Kim went all gas and no brakes on this issue. This is not only packed with action but also with so much drama. From about the 5th panel, I was on the edge of my seat. Kim has crafted a really unique story that sits in pretty much its own space in the comic world. There’s a heist aspect, there’s siblings, there’s organized crime, and even telepathy. Kim combines all these aspects beautifully into an intoxicating narrative.

The Wahng brothers could not be more different. They feel like oil and water, and it’s very clear that Kim showcases that as a strength and a weakness for the siblings. I think within all of this story about theft, poker, siblings, and danger, there’s another story about two people who clearly love each other, beginning to realize they’re very different people. While I can’t wait to see more play out narrative-wise, I’m really enjoying the interesting sibling dynamics that Kim is bringing into play.

Art

Jacob Perez continues to do an amazing job on this series, issue to issue. One thing I enjoyed about Perez’s work in this issue was that I feel like the narrative from Kim gave Perez a chance to be really expressive with these characters. I believe that an artist who can capture emotion so well that you could see what the characters are feeling without the word bubbles is someone who is doing amazing work.

While Perez focuses well on the characters, he doesn’t spare attention to detail when it comes to the scene. Even while the character is expressive, the world they are in feels crisp, clear, and yet lived in.

Final Thoughts

This series has become a fun, wild ride, and I can’t wait to see where it goes. Derek Kirk Kim and Jacob Perez are creating an absolute banger of a series that is unique and fun to read. Each episode builds the lore while introducing some new wrinkles and Royals #3 is the best in the series yet.

Overall Grade: 10/10

What do you think of Royals? Let me know in the comments