SNOW MONKEY #3 – A Look into the Past

Creative Team – Jason Shaw(writer). ENN(art). Chuck Obach(colors). Saida Temofonte(letters). Aaron Bartling(cover).

Published by Red 5 Comics

Catch up with Snow Monkey #2 here!

The Story and Writing

Instead of starting right where we left off with Jennifer Gaitlin, we are treated to a look into the past at her origin story with the helmet. According to Jennifer, when she was a child, she had a severe ringing in her ears. Any doctor she was taken to wasn’t able to help her and despite her begging, none of them, or her father, were able to help her. Her father referred to the tinnitus as a monster, a monster that she had to be strong enough to fight.

All hope seemed lost with her recovery, until one day when a large mysterious package was delivered to their house. The noise in Jennifer’s ears was unlike anything she’d ever felt before. While it was painful, it was concentrated. Whatever is causing Jennifer this pain had just been delivered in a large wooden box right to her right. She had to do what her father told her to do and she had to fight it. With a crowbar, she attacked the box with all her might, finally opening up the wooden mystery.

Inside was what looked to be ancient relics, and among them, the Snow Monkey helmet. Just like magic, as soon as she touched the helmet, the terrible pain that’s lived inside her ears finally stopped. Feeling drawn to the helmet, Jennifer placed in on her head, but what she experienced next was indescribable.

That brings us back to the present, where Jennifer is on the roof with Wèi Lāi, who has a warning about the helmet, and its previous owners.

Jason Shaw, the writer of Snow Monkey, gives an excellent look into the origin story of Jennifer’s Snow Monkey persona. Shaw shows that Jennifer has always had a magnetic draw to the helmet, and once she’s in company of it, it’s apart of her. Along with her origin story, we’re also given a great bit of continuity that makes the mystery around Jennifer’s enemies even more compelling. With how much is going on in the comic, I would love to see this run continue. The helmet itself comes with such a rich background, I’d love to see that explored someday.

The Art

The artists of Snow Monkey #3 really go far beyond the usual action panels you see in comics. ENN, the artist of the comic, perfectly illustrates Jennifer’s acrobatic capabilities during her fighting panels. Along with ENN, Chuck Obach masterfully handles the colors, that really sets the tone of the comic. Together, they both bring a lot of heat to the comic, and I think their work shows the best when a certain dragon makes an appearance.

Final Thoughts

I’m a big fan of what Jason Shaw is doing with Snow Monkey, and I’d love to see him continue Jennifer’s story, or even a look back into the previous owners of the helmet. I feel there’s a lot to work with there, and there’s no one better for the job.

Overall Grade – 9/10

You can find Snow Monkey here!

Let me know in the comments below what you thought of Snow Monkey #3!

This review was written by Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast. If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of Snow Monkey #3, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!