In terms of visual storytelling, Fight Club works exceedingly well in the comics medium. But as for narrative consistency…not so much.
Besetting this issue and previous ones is a sense of fragmentation, as if Chuck Palahniuk can’t pull all the threads he’s established together. Fight Club 3 #5 focuses on the Narrator going to a “Die Off” conference, only to fall asleep, then come home to find Marla with a dead body.
What happened to the picture frame and the land within? Eh, there’s barely one page for that. What about the nationwide devastation brought on by “Die Off?” Fuhgeddaboudit. The Narrator’s son listening to menacing broadcasts? Not even mentioned.
Even though Marla is assaulted, there’s little, if any, time spent on the fallout of such a horrific experience. This is callous, at best. Marla ends up crying a bit later, but it’s less about her recent trauma and more about survival.
What about the conflict between The Narrator and Tyler Durden? Not dealt with. In fact, they seem to be working very well together, easily switching without a problem. While that’s not a deal-breaking problem, it’s yet another example of missed conflict that’s left ripe.
Palahniuk and Cameron Stewart don’t relent in their breakneck collage style. They open with another Ask Miss Information (what happened to her?) article, throw panels between calendar dates, cram Times New Roman into speech bubbles, and overlay a coat hanger across a page. The gloomy colors from Dave McCaig enhance the darkly comic tone.
The plot of Fight Club 3 is moving forward in some respects, but the scope previously established is lacking. Throw in some badly handled assault and you’ve got one clumsy comic.
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