Phew!
Supercrooks #3 makes for an exhilarating read as the penultimate chapter in the four part series from writer Mark Millar and artist Lenil Yu ups the ante and sets Johnny Bolt and his team of former baddies on a collision course with The Bastard. We learn everything we need to about the world's greatest supervillain in the opening of the issue and this is all that we need in order to accept him as a credible and very frightening threat. At this point, the whole "X-Men Meets Oceans 11" talk which initially surrounded the series becomes justified as the both the planning and heist itself kick off in some nail biting and exciting sequences.
Millar packs an awful lot into this third issue, but it works perfectly and events never feels rushed. The writer also finds time for some brilliant character work. Whether it's the hilarious interaction between Johnny and Gladiator or his attempts at winning back his ex, Johnny is a character that it's easy to root for (the rest of the cast is also filled out with some great supporting characters). Seeing the team suit up in order to perform the heist is made all the more enjoyable by the fact that the costumes look REAL, and it's the small touches like this and the way Millar delves into the motivations of The Bastard which make the prospect of seeing
Supercrooks on the big screen - from director Nacho Vigalondo - all the more exciting. And c'mon, how can anyone not love a comic with lines like, "If I wasn't being blackmailed, I wouldn't even be breathing the same
air as you f*ck-heads"?
This is another great looking issue courtesy of Lenil Yu, inker Gerry Alanguilan and colorist Sunny Gho. The bloody opening really pops off the page, and Yu even manages to inject life into the pages where characters are doing little more than sitting around talking. Millar has worked with some of the best artists in the business, but it's hard to imagine any of them being as well suited for this series. If the issue falters, it's only that it once again feels as if there should have been another couple of instalments in the series so we could spend even more time with the cast. On the other hand, the fast pace of the series ensures it never gets boring and there's no unnecessary filler. In fact, there has already been talk of a follow-up, making it hard to complain too much!
Another solid issue in what has so far been one of Mark Millar's greatest series' yet. With a thrilling cliffhanger and only one issue to go, Supercrooks is a series which demands your attention!