There’s certain combinations out there that works well despite them being opposites. Stray Dogs feels like an example of that. The series delivers a style like Don Bluth that hides the dark interior. Stray Dogs #3 is another instance of that with an issue that has the dogs on edge as they’re convinced their new owner is also a serial killer.

Written by Tony Fleecs, the issue features debate and discovery as the dogs attempt to figure out what’s going on. As readers, it’s clear something isn’t right. The “owner” has a secret and what that is can still be debated. Is he a killer? Is there something more innocent and the dogs are misremembering? Fleecs keeps readers guessing as the dogs themselves struggle to remember what’s going on and what happened in their past.

We’re given some hints and the dogs come across another clue but all of it together can also point to something else going on. As a reader, I think the owner is a killer but at the same time, there’s other explanations as to what has been discovered. It’s easy to see why the dogs are coming to the conclusions they are and part of that is the innocence and cuteness of the art. There’s a combination of the visuals and the story that comes together in weird ways like that.

Those visuals are courtesy of Trish Forstner. They’re beautiful as always. The dogs are cute as can be but there’s a darkness about the comic. There’s a dread that exists. Part of that is helped with the color by Brad Simpson. The color is bright and doesn’t pop. It delivers a slightly darker tone to it all. Tone Rodriguez provides layouts and Lauren Perry is the flatter. The visuals are an interesting one in two instances of the comic (which I don’t want to spoil).

The dogs discover something that’s really head scratching. One thing is hinted at but it doesn’t quite make sense. Visually, it’s done really well hinting at what might be going on but, wouldn’t dogs be able to smell things? There’s also the final scene where there’s a fantastic choice to allow the reader’s imagination to fill in the blank. It’s far worse than anything can be drawn and adds a sense of horror about it all.

Stray Dogs #3 continues the cute dog meets murder mystery. It does so with tension and excitement that builds through the issue. It’s another fantastic entry that’ll keep readers guessing what’s true and what’s not and where things are going from here.

Story: Tony Fleecs Art: Trish Forstner
Color: Brad Simpson Layouts: Tone Rodriguez Flatter: Lauren Perry
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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