Written by: Jay Faerber, Brian Joines
Art by: Ilias Kyriazis
Published by: Image Comics
After two issues of character introductions and a bit of backstory, Secret Identities # 3 gives readers what we’ve been waiting for, nefarious scheming.
Secret Identities #3 throws readers into the middle of The Example, a super charged villain, attacking a not so innocent civilian. Our favorite mole Crosswind, just happens to be in the New York area, and coincidently gets into a disagreement with The Example. Crosswind is knocked out during the fight and immediately returns to HQ once he regains consciousness. Still shaken by the thorough butt kicking he received, Crosswind appeals to Front Line’s natural desire to protect the innocent in order to seek out and contain The Example before anyone else dies.
During the team’s investigation, Crosswind uncovers a few things about Gaijin that he believes will come in handy when tearing Front Line apart. An evil plan is hatched, but only issue #4 will reveal if Crosswind’s ruse is successful.
Crosswind plays the part of a new hero so well that it’s easy to forget that he is the bad guy. Especially when he makes compelling arguments about capturing villains to protect the public. Everyone is eating out of the palm of his hand. Well almost everyone. Recluse is still extremely suspicious of Crosswind.
Secret Identities #3 strikes a delicate balance between members of Front Line by splitting the team into smaller groupings. Doing so allows characters to play off of each other and creates a fast paced comic which provides readers with an adrenaline rush. Page design amplifies the action packed feel of the comic by layering panels and dividing the action into smaller frames. Of course, generating a comic that moves at top speeds produces an abrupt ending to the issue that leaves readers with a whirlwind of thoughts. The most pressing thought being, when is the next issue out?
Secret Identities #3 sets out to establish a new perspective on heroes and villains, and the results are far from disappointing.