Comic Books

Imaginary Fiends #3 Review

Imaginary Fiends #3 opens up the characters and world.

January 24, 2018

[amazon_link asins=’B077F4VTP8′ template=’AiPTProductAd’ store=’aiptcomics-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’802fc529-fed6-11e7-b2cb-116e174df153′]

Imagine a world where little kids talk to imaginary friends, but they are real. Most don’t know this, but the few that do understand those “friends” the children are talking to are anything but. They are creatures, monsters even, and their existence is complex, as they come from somewhere unknown and potentially threatening. This series has offered an incredibly unique take on something not tackled much before and issue #3 continues the trend of it being a great series.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

So what’s it about?

The official summary reads:

Agent Melba Li and her imaginary monster partner, Polly Peachpit, continue their search for a missing child, as a twisted conspiracy unfolds in the small town of Maiden Springs. What is the Fraidy Cat? And how can a woman who lives in fear defeat something that lives on it?

Why does this matter?

Writer Tim Seeley is at the top of his game and writing some of the best scripts of his career. This series taps into the scary notion of what is real in a fake news era (as he explains in our recent interview) as well as the horror that may come from an innocent child. It’s not their fault, it’s just their fiend…I mean friend!

Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?

Even though they are monsters it’s a cute scene.

Melba’s imaginary friend Polly Peachpit ends up being the most interesting character this issue. With sharp character work, Seeley reveals much about Peachpit through well-written dialogue as the character reflects and comes into her own. When the series started I had assumed she was a monster with little of her own identity, but it’s clear now she’s developed since Melba first friended her. By the end of the issue you’ll be pulling for her–a black spider creature I might add–as she’s become more of a heroic lead than I ever anticipated.

This issue also fleshes out the imaginary realm where, I think, these creatures come from. They aren’t popping out of anywhere from whole cloth and Seeley is developing a creation story here. Or, at the very least, an explanation as far as how these creatures enter the minds of children. That adds some solid ground to their development rather than the creatures coming out of nowhere.

Stephen Molnar may be getting better with each passing issue. From the strange, somewhat mystical opening in a magical land (the best way to describe it) to the well-blocked scene of Crockett turning away a small child who has to pee (with hilarious results) there’s a lot to love with this issue. Melba is expertly drawn too with great facial expressions to help us understand the fear or contemplation of a scene. In another wild Crockett PCP scene, Molnar draws two very trippy montage pages that help convey the rapid effect of the drugs.

The life of an imaginary friend is complicated.

It can’t be perfect can it?

[amazon_link asins=’B077F4VTP8′ template=’BottomAdAIPT’ store=’aiptcomics-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’859b6788-fed6-11e7-b73a-2de26e1e062e’]

My only gripe is the ending leaves me slightly confused. Why is this creature showing up now and where from? Maybe that’s on me for not reading more closely, but I was less excited than the cliffhanger probably wanted me to be.

Is It Good?

This is an excellent third issue that excels at developing its characters and the rules of the supernatural imaginary friends. The story continues to be one of the freshest horror tales I’ve read in some time.