REVIEW: 'The Me You Love in the Dark' #3 by Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, and Jean-Francois Beaulieu

 

THE ME YOU LOVE IN THE DARK #3

Writer: Skottie Young

Artist: Jorge Corona, Jean-Francois Beaulieu

Letterer: Nate Piekos of Blombot

Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: October 6, 2021

Cover Price: $3.99

Ro becomes even more intimate with whoever, or whatever, is haunting the old house as she finds the spark of inspiration for her most personal paintings yet.

Writer SKOTTIE YOUNG (I HATE FAIRYLAND, Deadpool, Strange Academy) and artist JORGE CORONA (NO. 1 WITH A BULLET, Super Sons, Feathers) follow up their

critically acclaimed series MIDDLEWEST with a brand-new haunting tale. Fans of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman will enjoy this beautiful, dark, and disturbing story of discovery, love, and terror.

Score:

★★★★1/2 (4.5/5)

QUICK REVIEW: Issue three answers the question of whether or not the spirit in the house Ro has rented for inspiration had malicious intentions. The lingering unease with which readers were left wondering as the spirit introduced itself to Ro and the slow build-up of a friendship had emerged. Whatever this being is, because it's unlike any ghost we've ever seen, has become Ro's muse. She's become more productive in her art and has found a legitimate companion to spend her nights watching old movies and even dancing. This unexpected pairing has grown into a full-blown romance taking this series in a direction most readers wanted. 

While Skottie Young has carefully and delicately paced this supernatural romance in quiet and romantic ways it's the stunning art by Jorge Corona and Jean-Francois Beaulieu that makes it swoon. Corona is doing some of the best work of his career in giving this story, which takes place mostly in the dimly lit rooms of an old victorian-style home, all the architectural charm and intimate atmosphere needed for a sweet but shocking romance. Beaulieu's colors are rich, dark, and deep adding depth, texture, and warmth. If this story had not taken a romantic turn, the setting and darkness of the house could easily have gone to a more terrifying place. As it is, the darkness consumes Ro, perhaps as a metaphor of things to come but the artists create this benign sweeping, and haunting dreamscape that has us swooning cautiously. This is still only issue three and anything can happen.