Lazaretto #3, BOOM! Studios

(Courtesy of BOOM! Studios)

A spine-chilling read, Lazaretto #3 (BOOM Studios) will strike a nerve with readers once they get a terrifying glimpse of body horror and terror. A twisted imaginative take on zombie movies and Lord of the Flies, the rebellious nature of youth takes a very scary turn for the worst.

A pandemic suddenly strikes at a dorm complex. The small American college is quickly quarantined with all of the male and female students trapped within. The sickness starts to take a greater toll on the trapped students. Charles and Tamara attempt to break out of the quarantine.

Here are 5 reasons why you should read Lazaretto #3:

5) Title Explains It All!

As we previously mentioned, Lazaretto means a quarantine station for maritime travelers. In the comic, the travelers are a metaphor the dorm residents moving away from home and being on their own. Lazarets are ships permanently kept at anchor, referring to the quarantined college campus.

4) A Violent Animal House!

Writer Clay McLeod Chapman interestingly focuses the narrative on Tamara and Charles. At a time where everybody is trying find their own identity, Charles has his own a hidden secret. We also get a peek into Tamara’s backstory, which presents her more as a flawed, yet memorable character.  

3) The Escape!

My favorite pages in this issue are when Charles and the other uninfected students attempt to break out of the college. The panel layouts are edited in such a way to keep the suspense flowing. The action is kept in a wide shot, where everything can be seen in a split-screen.

2) The Artwork!

There’s something evocative about artist Jay Levang’s sketchy and surreal style. It’s like we’re inside a living hallucinatory dream. Levang distorts facial expressions, emphasizing the ugliness within human nature.  

1) An Unsettling Horror Story!

Lazaretto #3 continues with its claustrophobic vibe, keeping the characters trapped within its dark setting. Tired of being lab rats, the uninfected attempt to make a escape.

Rating:

via GIPHY

Three out of four emojis

Lazaretto #3 is out in stores on November 1, 2017.

– By Jorge Solis