Timala Elliott
Timala Elliott
Bolero #3
Image Comics
Written by Wyatt Kennedy
Art by Luana Vecchio
Letters by Brandon Graham
The Rundown: Devyn’s 52nd life is filled with ups and downs. Catgrass is revealed to have some surprising relationships.
It is revealed that Devyn has spent three years in her current life and is in a long-term relationship with Will. Then a series of scenes from their past together provided with a narration by Devyn, detail the nature of their history together. In the present, Devyn has multiple interactions with both Amina and Natasha both with Will present and without. She remains in contact with Catgrass, who acts as both a therapist and friend. Soon, a night of drinking causes a break in Devyn’s relationship with Will. Later she reveals her biggest secret to Amina. Afterwards, it is disclosed that Devyn is not the only person that has jumped lives.
The Story: Kennedy crafts a brilliantly worked narrative filled with self-reflection and heartbreak. Devyn has spent her last 51 jumps repeating the same cycles that caused her to retreat from her first life. Now that she has found some type of happiness and a healthy relationship, she restarts her destructive behavior. I root for Devyn. I want her to win against the demons that plague her. But while we have seen her attempt to forge a new path for herself, she hasn’t actually faced any of her fears or attempted to understand what they are. So, when she is confronted by Amina, it is jarring, as is the subsequent conversation with Will. Now that she only has one life left, her options are limited, and I am curious to see how she will proceed.
The Art: As a warning to audiences, this issue is filled with mature content including nudity and graphic sexual situations. This illustration in this chapter uses detailed drawings and colorwork that changes with location and mood. The art has a dreamlike quality that perfectly fits the tone of the story.
Bolero #3
