When Megan Amano dreams, she travels to a place called Meridian University. Traditionally, spirits travel to the University to be educated before they are reborn into the world of the living. However, Megan is still alive and attends college in Santa Monica, California by day and Meridian University at night. One night, Megan peers through the shutter of her camera lens and discovers a mystery so deep that she begins to question her own existence and begins her search for answers.
Rosearik Rikki Simons is a voice actor, writer, and artist. He is most famous for being the voice of the robot in a dog suit, GIR from Invader ZIM. As an artist and writer he is known for science fantasy graphic novels such as Ranklechick and His Three Legged Cat, Super Information Hijinks: Reality Check!, and the unfinished six volume ShutterBox fantasy series, which he co-created with his wife, Tavisha-Wolfgarth-Simons. He is also a background painter in animation, most noted for his color design on Invader ZIM. The weekly web comic that he creates with Tavisha, called @Tavicat, can be read at www.tavicat.com
Shutterbox Volume 3 Author: Rikki Simons & Tavisha Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Manga Synopsis: This time we learned more about Megan’s connection to Merridiah, and why she is needed as a Shutterbox exchange student. After successfully capturing the Banshee, she earns the protection of Lahlii, an ancient being who merges with Megan to save her life. It is finally understood that AJ is a Peter Pan-like character in that he can never age and that he is the guardian of children who have died. Damien, in turn, is the keeper of untimely and sudden death. Review: The panel style was easier to follow, I honestly think I was just getting used to the overlapping. The story just got weird and had non-linear plot lines that made little sense. For example, Megan being the mother of the Beebos was an odd and far out there plot point that was rushed and honestly just didn’t seem like it belonged. But now at least we know why Damien had it out for her from the beginning, as he felt he was betrayed by Megan in a past life. Rating: ⁎⁎⁎
Review in 75 Words or Less: Like the two previous volumes, Shutterbox, Vol. 3 was a delight. However, this volume was a little different. There was a darker tone that emerged that I was not exactly expecting. While the third volume definitely gets to the bottom of some the mysteries of the previous volumes, I wish that things had been a little more fleshed out. It seemed like around every corner was a new twist, but little explanation to said twist.
Final Verdict: Nice addition to the series. Not exactly my favorite, but it did answer quite a few lingering questions that I had.
I really liked the weird that was the start of this series...but the girl being the mother of a bunch of flying bunnies is just going a bit over the top.