I like to think that I’m the type of comic reader that will give any book a chance, and I believe in the rule of three, which is if a new comic can interest me and keep me interested during the first three issues, then I’m sold. It’s decision time for The 7th Sword, and, to be honest, I might have to stick around for one more issue.

As mentioned, The 7th Sword is on its third issue from Darby Pop Publishing, and it’s a comic that I think readers who enjoy the weird genre mixing we’ve seen from geek fan favorite Firefly will certainly want to get their hands on. For those of you who haven’t been following John Raffo’s The 7th Sword, mercenary Daniel Cray has been hired to train the completely volunteer ZenZion army in exchange for an all-expenses-paid ride back to Earth. After playing the role of Mr. Miyagi, teaching these wannabe soldiers the benefits of patience and discipline, Cray quickly narrows down the once large pool of volunteers to a small, travel-sized party of six individuals (plus himself as the seventh).

Throughout this “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” issue, readers can still expect some jumping back and forth between Cray’s band of misfits and The 7th Sword’s antagonists: Superfecta 5 and Kavanaugh. This is where 7th Sword’s artist Nur “Popia” Iman truly shines in my opinion. Overall, I find the character art (specifically the acting and expressions) to be stiff and boring, but Popia’s conceptual art background stands out when it comes time to show off the environmental and industrial design elements of this particular comic. Between the design for the ship, titled Gargantua, the mechanoid suits, and the mysterious “Hammerhead,” Popia’s design skills give exactly the kind of artistic boost this story needs to keep readers turning the pages.

While The 7th Sword has its ups and downs like almost every comic does, it’s enjoyable and, at the very least, worth reading the first three issues. Issue three ends on a cliffhanger that, personally, makes me want to continue with the series, because I feel it’s just hitting its stride. There are definitely themes in this book that I feel have run their course and need to die for a little while, but I think The 7th Sword has come out at the right time with the Summer Superhero Crossover Events fast approaching.

So, if you’re looking for a little something different to put on your pull list, definitely take a look at Darby Pop Publishing’s 7th Sword, written by John Raffo and with art by Nur “Popia” Iman.