Jon wakes up in his bedroom instead of the jail cell he fell asleep in. A trail of red leads him on a shocking tour of the town, torn to pieces and splattered with blood. He only has one person left to turn to. If his best friend Tabby can’t even be a safe space, where else can he find peace? Sleep #3 continues!
- Writing and art by Zander Cannon
- Published by Image Comics
Sleep #3 Raises the Stakes
Things were already a bit on edge in issue 2 of Sleep. In issue 3, we get a trigger warning on the title page! We’re taking it to a whole other level before our mouths drop to the floor! Jon has accepted that there is something seriously wrong with himself. When he goes to sleep, bad things happen. Chaos, destruction, and gore is left in the wake of whatever it is. Jon’s life has turned upside down. He’s got nothing left and no one left to turn to. That leads to a desperate and shocking decision!
Jon’s Journey in Sleep #3
Our main character Jon is really going through it. Las we saw him he was going to sleep in a jail cell with the hopes of containing whatever evil was coming from him in his sleep. At the start of issue 3, he wakes up in his own bed, staring at his transformers poster. It takes him a moment to realize, but when he does, he panics.
In Case You Missed It: Sleep #2 Man Fears the Evil Beast Within
His journey through town his intense. So much destruction, so much violence and death. The police station is completely destroyed and the officers within brutally murdered. The crazy man that was in the cell next to him is absolutely terrified at the sight of Jon. It’s a fantastic way of taking us through Jon’s POV and you feel some semblance of what he is feeling. While visiting the only person he feels close enough to for help, he’s interrupted by someone he admires, plotting a way to kill the “monster” that is terrorizing the town. This is the final straw for Jon. This is where the issue takes a drastic turn into the darkest of corners.
Character and World Building
That’s the real beauty of this story to me. This man, going through this alone, with no one to confide in. He feels so helpless and lost, even if he does have someone he could talk to, he can’t trust their reaction to his secret. It’s all too familiar in the real world. It’s so relatable.
Also From Image Comics: Ghost Pepper #1 – Welcome to the Post Apocalypse
I love the way that this whole town is a character in this story as well. Each person, each building, each landmark holds a piece of the history and emotion of this setting. The way the pieces move within it are so precise and purposeful. It really is a robust world that lifts this story of a man in crisis to a greater level.
The Beauty and the Horror of Sleep #3
The artwork continuously grows on you. In the first issue it didn’t necessarily fit the tone. As the story progresses it becomes more and more a perfect compliment. The use of color becomes more prevalent as well. The reds that stain the monsters destruction continue to grow and spread. The black that represents blood is becoming more frequent. Most importantly in this issue is the use of blue in relation to Tabby. What does it all mean?!
Speaking of Beasts: Battle Beast #3 – The Savage Battle Rages On
Without giving anything away, the final pages of Sleep are where this book takes a turn. The artwork plays a pivotal role in setting up the scene with so few words being used. The setting is so large and dominating. The expressions on Jon’s face say everything. It’s a beautiful and harrowing at the same time.
Overall Grade 10/10
Sleep has steadily climbed the ranks of my most anticipated pulls. The story is growing in what feels like an organic way. It doesn’t feel forced. The characters are tangible and genuine. The pacing is perfect. The artwork stays with you because of it’s uniqueness. This issue feels like calm before the storm and it’s so riveting. I can’t wait for the coming crescendo!
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