Blastosaurus #3

by Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones

The first issue of Blastosaurus was bold. There were a ton of different elements, casts of characters, and timelines all introduced in rapid succession. It was risky, but coming into issue three Fairgray and Jones are connecting the dots. As the story aligns, the risks taken earlier prove worthwhile as the fusion is handled very well. Here, readers get closer to the sequences of the present day from issue one, but the questions that remain unanswered strengthen the story.

Moments of last issue were quite grim. Readers saw a future version of these kids in their final hour deciding to take a risk on changing the past. In Blastosaurus #3, the Raptors and Blastosaurus reach the present day from opposite ends of the time stream. The scripting of the opening interaction between the two children is great. Fairgray and Jones capture a normal exchange so well it almost feels nostalgic, until a hulking dinosaur appears. Elsewhere, the raptors take on The Raptorz making for some great bits of humor in different parts of the issue.

The art continues to be very strong in Blastosaurus. The coloring and line work maintain an energy and a fun tone. Alterations in the presentation are used a few times to denote difference between the main story and other elements and it makes for a smart choice. The scripting of the first sequence, meant to be a television series the children are watching, and its different art almost feel like a glimpse at another title entirely. In the back matter, the creators discuss how these worlds within worlds are fully developed. It is interesting to see how much care is out into these elements of the book and may lead readers to dreaming of some one-shot stories of such worlds.

What makes the story structure over the first several issues so interesting is how they interact with each other. The events here do not quite reach where readers found the story in issue one, but it comes close to that time. The gaps still in existence pose some questions, as well as ones that have been created by seeing the distant future. Readers may find themselves revisiting the other issues to piece the story together. This puzzle like dynamic is a great decision by the creators. Anytime you can provide a situation for readers to move across issues, look back, and interact with the series in more than a linear fashion, you have created a much more engaging reading experience.

It may have been risky to open in such a way as was done with Blastosaurus. Challenging readers can be incredibly rewarding if they are open to the exercise. For those that do, the test is whether such a complication is warranted. As of issue three, Fairgray and Jones are to be commended as their decisions have made for a wholly more entertaining story. Handled well, story does not require the reader being unaware of where it is headed. At times, the most exciting stories are the ones where the end point is known, and readers face the puzzle of how this will align. Handled well, as is the case here, the latter is often more rewarding and Blastosuarus #3 is proof that this series is going to be very good.