CHICKEN DEVIL #3
Chicken Devil was undeniably a wild and audacious ride in its first two issues, and while I enjoyed it, it also made me cringe a bit. Gun violence is unfortunately prevalent in America, which can serve as compelling material for storytelling, but it also leaves me on edge. Similar to the second issue, the third installment continues to refine its approach, resulting in a more captivating read. I’ve been consistently impressed by Hayden Sherman’s kinetic artwork in various titles over the past few years, so I’m thrilled to see more of it in Chicken Devil. The combination of story and artwork feels like a mashup of Crank and Falling Down, with the added element of a chicken mask.
The death of Antonio at the hands of Luka’s gang places Mitchell in a precarious situation, hiding in a closet wearing the chicken suit. Naturally, the two killers aren’t oblivious to his presence and quickly discover his hiding spot. Mitchell is swiftly thrown into the back of a car to be interrogated about Gregor’s whereabouts. Mitchell, however, is nearing the end of his patience with this game, as we’ve seen before, and his escape from the clutches of the gang takes a deadly and perilous turn. This experience solidifies his resolve to embrace the darkness within him to confront the situation. While his phone conversation with his mother provides a comical moment of denial, the reality is that he can only seek revenge after enduring loss and the subsequent events. Thus, we witness a fully equipped Chicken Devil ready to engage in a warzone-like confrontation.
While there is a minor diversion involving the police that will set the stage for the finale in the next issue, a significant portion of this installment focuses on Mitchell fully embracing his mission. In a fairly standard concept, he arms himself and sets a trap for Luka and his gang, who are partying at an indoor trampoline park with drugs and alcohol. It’s amusing to witness their intoxicated state as Mitchell executes his plans, as there is no future left for him. His only path forward is to eliminate those who have taken everything from him and spend the remainder of his life knowing that he has delivered true justice to them. It’s thrilling to see the plan unfold, even if it doesn’t achieve everything it set out to do, and to witness Mitchell’s increasing intensity as he realizes there is more to be done—with a surprising twist on the final page.
