Chachu #3 – Everlasting Love = Andy Gibb

Leila and her Chachu are on the search for his missing wife, Cleo. Trading the Southern California backroads for the neon glow of a bar, family secrets unravel. The shadows of Cleo’s past loom over Leila and Chachu, threatening to catch up to them all. In the heart of Nevada, Leila and Chachu find themselves in the crosshairs of trouble.

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

Creative Team

Writer: Iman Vellani
Artist: Marianna Ignazzi
Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Cover Artist: Matt Taylor

Writing

Eda: Iman Vellani truly upped the ante in this issue, giving us deeper looks at “Uncle Dick”, Cleo, and their relationship. This has honestly got to be my favorite issue to date, as it goes deeper into the things we know while bringing in even more of the noir detective vibes. In classic genre fashion, Vellani manages to make us question each line of dialogue, making sure we know almost everything can be interpreted in multiple ways. I feel like, at three issues in, this was absolutely the right move to make. She lured us in with a family detective hook before deciding to make us question everything. Is Chachu reliable, or is he hiding secrets? What exactly is Leila’s play in all of this? And what exactly does Cleo get out of what she’s up to? Vellani weaves all of this together effortlessly like a seasoned vet, engrossing you in whatever she has planned next.

Shawn: I love that Iman Vellani pulled the veil back on Chachu in this issue. It feels like we got a really deep dive into not only Chachu’s life but also how he ended up married to Cleo. We still get the noir-era vibes from the story. Vellani perfectly captures the dark, smoky clubs while weaving a heartfelt story about looking for and finding belonging. This issue began to show us that things are way more complex than we thought through the first two issues. What comes next? Will the pressure be too much for Chachu? Will it be too much for Leila? Vellani perfectly draws you in with a Chachu-centric issue that adds more complexity to all of the characters in a satisfying way.

Art

Eda: This time, it seems nearly impossible to review the different aspects of the artwork and lettering individually. While reading this issue, I got the sense that Ignazzi, Bellaire and Gattoni were in heavy communication behind the scenes as each page flowed as smooth as an ink pen. The splash in particular is a prime example of what I mean. You witness as Chachu lights up and as the two walk through the room, the smoke acts as a brilliant guiding line for the reader. Within the scene, Bellaire expertly gives the illusion of smoke filling the air. At the same time, Gattoni placed his boxes in perfect harmony with the smoke trail, creating an intensely cohesive and enveloping reading experience.

Shawn: I loved the art for this issue. From the front cover through the last page, it all felt so meticulously planned. Each line felt impactful. Marianna Ignazzi perfectly captures this 70s-era Vegas issue with startling detail. Everything feels so well reasoned and placed.

I think Jordie Bellaire really shone in this issue. The lighting and coloring is simply spectacular. From the cigarette smoke to a stage coming alive with lights and effects, Bellaire nails ever single palette and color. This issue saw Bellaire lay down some beautiful glow affects to guide the scene and make the panels pop. I absolutely was blown away with the work of Lucas Gattoni on lettering.

Final Thoughts

Eda: 10/10. “Chachu” is everything one might hope it to be, and then some. Vellani continues to deliver, the story becoming more and more complex with questions, while the art side is in perfect cohesion. Altogether, “Chachu” may just be a masterclass in modern noir storytelling.

Shawn: 10/10. Chachu #3 is easily the best issue in the series so far. This issue is at times an emotional look at what “Uncle Dick” gave up of himself to be married to Cleo, the Hollywood starlet. This series’ creative team has quickly established themselves as committed to putting forward a modern-day noir standard.

Overall Grade: 10/10

What did you think Chachu #2? Let us know in the comments