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Pretty Deadly #3
Pretty Deadly #3
All blood spilled into the earth makes its way to a river. Where those rivers meet, Fox attends the birth of a beast, the child of a thousand violent deaths.
32 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2013
235 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Sue DeConnick
359 books2,234 followersKelly Sue DeConnick’s work spans stage, comics, film and television. Ms. DeConnick first came to prominence as a comics writer, where she is best known for reinventing the Carol Danvers as “Captain Marvel” at Marvel and for the Black Label standard-setting Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons at DC. Her independent comics Bitch Planet and Pretty Deadly (both from Image Comics) have ranked as New York Times best-sellers and been honored with Eisner Awards, British Fantasy Awards and Hugo nominations.
Ms. DeConnick’s screen work includes stints on Captain Marvel, a film that earned $1B for Disney worldwide, and 2023’s forthcoming The Marvels with Marvel Studios; in addition to having consulted on features for Skydance and ARRAY, and developed television for NBCUniversal, Legendary Entertainment and HBOMax. Her most recent stage work is the mythic spectacle AWAKENING, which opened at the Wynn Resort Las Vegas in November 2022.
Mission-driven, Ms. DeConnick is also a founding partner at Good Trouble Productions, where she has helped to produce non-fiction and educational comics including the “Hidden Voices” and “Recognized” series for NY Public Schools and Congressman John Lewis’ Run, in partnership with Abrams Comics.
In 2015, Ms. DeConnick founded the #VisibleWomen Project, whose mission is to help women and other marginalized genders find paid work in comics and its related industries. The project continues to this day and recently expanded in partnership with Dani Hedlund of Brink Literacy.
Ms. DeConnick lives in Portland, OR with her husband, writer Matt Fraction, and their two children.
Ms. DeConnick’s screen work includes stints on Captain Marvel, a film that earned $1B for Disney worldwide, and 2023’s forthcoming The Marvels with Marvel Studios; in addition to having consulted on features for Skydance and ARRAY, and developed television for NBCUniversal, Legendary Entertainment and HBOMax. Her most recent stage work is the mythic spectacle AWAKENING, which opened at the Wynn Resort Las Vegas in November 2022.
Mission-driven, Ms. DeConnick is also a founding partner at Good Trouble Productions, where she has helped to produce non-fiction and educational comics including the “Hidden Voices” and “Recognized” series for NY Public Schools and Congressman John Lewis’ Run, in partnership with Abrams Comics.
In 2015, Ms. DeConnick founded the #VisibleWomen Project, whose mission is to help women and other marginalized genders find paid work in comics and its related industries. The project continues to this day and recently expanded in partnership with Dani Hedlund of Brink Literacy.
Ms. DeConnick lives in Portland, OR with her husband, writer Matt Fraction, and their two children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 4, 2022
I have to admit, half the time I don't really understand what's going on in this series! Which actually doesn't bother me so much, because it doesn't come across as something confused. It comes across a little more like a puzzle box, presented in fragments and needing me to put it together, and that's interesting to me. It piques curiosity.
That being said, a large part of this particular issue is fairly straightforward back story, following what happened to Mason after his wife died. It's clear that he feels substantial regret - as he damn well should - for his jealous, abusive actions, but it's also clear, I think, that it's genuinely felt rather than self-pity, and that he's actively trying to do better in his caretaking of little Sissy. I'm still not sure whether Ginny is his daughter or Death's, and honestly I hope that's never entirely cleared up, because the ambiguity adds something to the tragedy of the entire situation.
That relatively straightforward narrative doesn't last, though, and the end sequence with the rising waters is baffling. I don't quite get it, but I trust it will all make sense eventually!
That being said, a large part of this particular issue is fairly straightforward back story, following what happened to Mason after his wife died. It's clear that he feels substantial regret - as he damn well should - for his jealous, abusive actions, but it's also clear, I think, that it's genuinely felt rather than self-pity, and that he's actively trying to do better in his caretaking of little Sissy. I'm still not sure whether Ginny is his daughter or Death's, and honestly I hope that's never entirely cleared up, because the ambiguity adds something to the tragedy of the entire situation.
That relatively straightforward narrative doesn't last, though, and the end sequence with the rising waters is baffling. I don't quite get it, but I trust it will all make sense eventually!
August 15, 2014
—Está muerto. No puede lastimarte.
—¿No temes a los muertos?
—Tengo una enorme lista de cosas a las que temer, montones de huesos no están incluidos.
December 27, 2025
I picked this comic up due to the cover art. It seems like a very interesting series and I will go back to read #1 & #2. For starting with book #3, the storyline of which I have grasp hold of is very unique.
December 2, 2017
ARE YOU TELLING ME SHES THE BEAST? OH MY GOD
That story was so sad though.............
That story was so sad though.............
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2020
Always evocative.
March 1, 2021
Se responden alguna preguntas, y me siento más tranquilo.
April 13, 2016
Alright, phew, finally, things are starting to come into focus. By reading the little intros on the title pages, and some of the summaries in the back of the book (as well as some hints from the actual narrative here), I've been able to garner what this story is actually about. The blind man killed the woman he loved. Like Orpheus, he travels to the underworld, makes a deal with death ... and then he doesn't follow through.
The blind man is to kill Sissy, who is described by Death to be a monster. (I should probably start calling the blind man, Fox, haha.) Naturally, he cannot do it. How could he kill a baby? No. So now, he's got death's daughter after him. She's got blood and revenge in her eyes ... Ginny. Hrm. She is Death's daughter, yet she is not dead ... nor is she alive ... she is other ... I guess that makes sense.
In ways, this story is starting to remind me of Stephen King's Darktower series. I read in the back notes that the style of the story was partly inspired by Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, and I can totally see that--especially with the Orpheus myth influence here. This issue has definitely nailed things down enough for me to want to continue with the series. I have also learned this is not a limited, but an ongoing series. I can't wait to see what sweeping adventures this odd book has in store for us.
Read more commentary here: http://www.rjspindle.com/content/pret...
The blind man is to kill Sissy, who is described by Death to be a monster. (I should probably start calling the blind man, Fox, haha.) Naturally, he cannot do it. How could he kill a baby? No. So now, he's got death's daughter after him. She's got blood and revenge in her eyes ... Ginny. Hrm. She is Death's daughter, yet she is not dead ... nor is she alive ... she is other ... I guess that makes sense.
In ways, this story is starting to remind me of Stephen King's Darktower series. I read in the back notes that the style of the story was partly inspired by Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, and I can totally see that--especially with the Orpheus myth influence here. This issue has definitely nailed things down enough for me to want to continue with the series. I have also learned this is not a limited, but an ongoing series. I can't wait to see what sweeping adventures this odd book has in store for us.
Read more commentary here: http://www.rjspindle.com/content/pret...
January 23, 2014
I am still not quite sure on Pretty Deadly, which was recommended to me by a nice lady who adored it. It is western mixed a tad with supernatural elements. The writing is very "flowery" and poetical at times, but to be honest, it is also pretty predictable on where it is going from issue #1 (I am up to #3 which confirmed a lot of what I predicted). I am not sure if I am going to follow up with #4 unless I find it cheap and am very bored. Art is decent. Sort of reminds me of some the Vertigo imprint artists, but nothing that grabbed me or really made it memorable. And the confrontation between Ginny and one “individual” and their resulting fight was…weak looking. Part of me is impressed with the way the Butterfly and such is used, but overall the symbolism and writing seems very unfocused at times. I think I am just too impatient of a reader to be in the intended audience the author is writing for. While I don’t regret reading the story, the writing/art did not attract me enough to justify spending $3.99 per issue. Recommend for those who like Vertigo Comics type storytelling and art or those who just like poetically written type stories featuring a western with supernatural elements. Two more issues will complete this story arc for those interested in it and definitely reads better to read the individual comics in one sitting instead of as they are released.
December 1, 2014
This gave me some of the feeling I got from reading the Sandman. It gives me a sense of living myth.
Though I did find that the images got a little bit less pretty when looked at on my tablet screen. The colours break up a bit into little dots and it was a bit less easy to look at. I had no such problem when I viewed it in adobe on my desktop.
Though I did find that the images got a little bit less pretty when looked at on my tablet screen. The colours break up a bit into little dots and it was a bit less easy to look at. I had no such problem when I viewed it in adobe on my desktop.
August 27, 2014
''If you done been wronged say her name, sing this song,
Sound the bell's knell that calls her from hell..
Ginny rides for you on the wind my child...
Death rides on the wind!''
December 22, 2013
Seriously engaging and awesome.
Read
May 24, 2018The story is really starting to come together now.
January 17, 2014
This series is slowly starting to make sense to me. Not sure if I like it enough yet to stick with it though.
January 19, 2014
It's all beginning to pull together now, and I believe this will be more than worthy of a re-read once the opening arc has reached it's conclusion in just two issues time.
March 7, 2014
I need more of this immediately.
April 17, 2014
This is starting to take shape.. a really good story kinda shape!
September 12, 2016
Well, the story-telling is finally going somewhere. Still rather bored and confused, really.
January 2, 2016
The art is never more beautiful and the story never more terrifying and haunting than in this issue. The world and mythology in the series also becomes less opaque.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews