Brady, Cheeks, and Haley continue their ‘verse-jumping adventure through iconic and geeky genres in Dark Horse Comics’ digital release this week of Husbands #3: A Case of Assumption. At this point, if you’ve been following my previous reviews, you’re probably tired of hearing over and over about how frakkin’ enjoyable this book is, but don’t blame me! It’s completely the fault of writers Jane Espenson and Brad “Cheeks” Bell, who are simply refusing to turn down the awesomeness by even a notch!
In this issue, we meet “The Cheeky Detective” Winston Chess, and his spiffy companion Colonel Bradon, as they are plunged head first into a Holmesian caper involving a “tragic mishap,” the disappearance of a “prized possession,” and a disgruntled valet suspected of murderous actions! Much like the previous issues, wit and charm are in abundance throughout Husbands #3: A Case of Assumption. Espenson and Bell continue their fun with the narrative style of the comic book genre by giving a delectable buffet of banter and quips to both the omniscient narrator and Detective Chess’ inner dialogue. Undermining expectations also seems to be a consistent theme of the Husbands digital comic, especially during this issue. As “The Cheeky Detective” strategically breaks down the case set before him, we’re offered a few different surprising, yet appropriate, turns-of-events, including an opportunity for Colonel Bradon to flex the mental muscles that sometimes get buried behind his more noticeably athletic ones. It’s also very interesting to see how well the dynamic works between the well-known “Sherlock and Watson” archetype when romance is a factor between the two male detectives. While the Husbands comics have approached each genre jump with a parody-like style that keeps tempo with the humor of the Husbands sitcom, this issue does bring an important question to light: With a Guy Ritchie film franchise and TWO different television series currently based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective character, why has there not yet been a serious dramatic approach to the idea of a homosexual Holmes and Watson? Given the speculation that has surrounded Holmes’ consistent bachelorhood for some time now, what are we waiting for? (P.S. If you say we’ve been waiting to hire Espenson and Bell to write the sucker, I may “squee” like a little girl.)
Let me wrap up this review by once again complimenting the artist chosen for the new issue. Each new chapter has come complete with a different artist, and each one, amazingly, has been a perfect fit. This issue features the work of M.S. Corley, who continues the tradition of “rockin’ it” set by the previous two featured artists, and whose style does a masterful balancing act between epic action and cartoon-like expressiveness. (Think Batman: The Animated Series.)
You can find out more about Husbands #3: A Case of Assumption, read a free preview, and purchase a digital copy of the first and second issues (for only $0.99) at the Dark Horse Comics website. Also, if you haven’t yet watched the Husbands sitcom, then be sure to stop by and familiarize yourself with what Ira Glass calls ‘the future of TV.’
That’s all for now, comic book sniffers. Be sure to snag a copy of Husbands #3: A Case of Assumption and keep an eye out for Issue #4, coming our way next week! You can also check out Fanboy Comics’ previous interviews with the Husbands cast and crew, as well as my previous reviews of the Husbands digital comics, at the following links:
Husbands #2 Review: A Goddamsel Good Time!
Husbands: Drawn In #1 Review – Switching Mediums Like a Boss!
Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews Jane Espenson
Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews Brad “Cheeks” Bell
Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews Sean Hemeon
Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews Jeff Greenstein
Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews M. Elizabeth Hughes
WonderCon 2012: Jane Espenson and Brad Bell (aka Cheeks) Talk about Husbands
‘Till the end of the world,
-Bryant the Comic Book Slayer
