Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #3 Review

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #3

Writer: Mark Russell
Penciller: Mike Feehan
Inker: Mark Morales
Colorist: Paul Mounts
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: DC Comics

Review by Greg Brothers

The first two issues of The Snagglepuss Chronicles have done an excellent job introducing us to the world that Snagglepuss lives in. While Snagglepuss has worked hard for the life that he has, he also has his secrets. And while those secrets seem to be secure, there are things working in the background that threaten to expose him and ruin his secret life.

The Snagglepuss Chronicles #3 sees Snagglepuss continuing to put out small fires while helping others around him. Although he works hard to try and help others, he continues to sacrifice things in his personal life. Unfortunately for Snagglepuss, as he is working hard to help others, they do not always have his best interests in mind in return.

Russell continues to craft a story that is meant to be a reminder of how easily the country can abandon minority and marginalized groups. However, this issue feels like it is a step off from the first two. Instead of continuing to move forward with the story, it feels as if it was stuck in neutral. Rather than exploring more of the hardships, Snagglepuss #3 spends its time focusing on the likes of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe. Even the inclusion of The Stonewall felt as if it was wedged in just to name drop rather than contribute to the advancement of the story.

The art continues to hit on all the right points throughout Snagglepuss #3. Mixed with the calm and stoic face that Snagglepuss has mastered, we see flashes of real emotion. Those emotions and expressions transport the reader and lost is the fact that these are anamorphic characters. While the colors are still there, as the story heads down what may be a tragic end the art seems to spiral down with it. There are much more dark blues and greys than the bright lights of the theater from the first two issues.

Verdict: Buy it.

Although Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #3 is a bit of a misstep compared to the first two issues, it is still a key issue in the total story. Although the story is based on past historical events it is just as relevant in today’s political climate. Once it is put into the scope of the rest of the story, Snagglepuss #3 will no doubt play an important part. However, as a single issue it feels like this is a bit of a speedbump.