Spectacle Vol. 3

Spectacle #3

by Megan Rose Gedris

From fake psychic to true believer, circus performer Anna finds herself dealing with the supernatural more and more, and is determined to use her growing powers to confront her sister's murderer. Has she finally figured out whodunit, and can she prove it before a demon does her in?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, LGBT, Young Adult, Mystery, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics

136 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Megan Rose Gedris, aka Rosalarian, is a comics writer and artist based in Chicago. She started making webcomics in 2002, with a focus on women and LGBTQ characters, as well as body/sex positivity. Her style is expressive with a penchant for bright colors and textures. She designs fabric for fun. When not making comics, she performs burlesque around the country as “the comic stripper” Florence of a’Labia.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a sophomore slump, the series is back on track as the twin sisters -- one alive and one a ghost -- make the tiniest bit of progress in solving the dead sister's murder and finally let loose some secrets they've been holding from others and each other.

I have the next volume on hand from the library, so I'll get to see tomorrow if the mystery is at last solved or dragged out for another installment.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't understand why the entry for this book says "final" when it clearly isn't the end of the story, the physical book doesn't say anything about it being the end to the series, etc.

There is a lot going on and I look forward to seeing the actual end and how all these threads are tied off. Could be anything.

Library copy

[J MaK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things are starting to pick up with the sister’s back story involving their grandmother. However, I keep feeling like certain details are being stretched to the brink. The haphazard mystery solving is getting rather tiresome.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this series, but this volume started out weakly. Much of the art at the beginning was even simpler/blockier than usual, and it had a bit of a slow start. But it got better, and by the end, I was just as involved as I was with the previous books. There's not a lot of progress in the murder mystery, though we learn more about possible suspects and rule out a few. We also learn more about Kat and Anna, including the trauma that brought them to the circus, from which Kat has been protecting Anna, who's forgotten it, except in her dreams. There's more about the demon, too. Might that be related to the twins' past? I'm eager to read the next book, which I will do very soon.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been my favourite instalment so far.

… Do I understand what’s going on? Not really.

Do I have any idea of who the murderer is? Yes! I finally have a suspect.

The art style takes such an interesting turn in this book…

Really this Spectacle has became a trip and I’m along for the ride.

[ashes ➷]

I find myself wishing we had more development between Kat & Isabel-- their relationship is beautiful, and our only knowing it as an established one with no conflict that pushes it forward (while Kat is dead, Isabel isn't exactly processing that) makes me feel like it could be so much more emotional for the reader if we just got more on it than flashbacks & present pining... #Isabelhive

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the digital version of this series and it DOESN'T end in this volume. There is actually another five issues to the series. In this volume however more clues are brought together as the revelation of the murderer comes closer to being revealed.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for vol 5!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Stephanie (Gorelenore) Cover2CoverBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a little laugh about the Goodreads synopsis for this book...because the reason I am reading these is because I was sent the 4th installment for review as well. So I am pretty sure that this is not the "final installment" of the series. It is also quite obviously not the end of the actual story, there are no resolutions by the end of this installment.

Book 3 was a great improvement over book 2, it was everything that I wanted book 2 to be and that it wasn't. It has some answers to the many questions that last two books have posed. There was a lot of focus in this installment about relationships, Kat wants Anna to talk to Isabel about her being there, the reader learns more about the twins' background, and there are a lot of character connections that come up in this issue as well.

Like I mentioned, I liked this installment more than the 2nd one. We didn't get a conclusion like the synopsis suggests but Anna is working on the murder case again and really taking it it heart. In the mix we learned interesting information about the twins and their background that might be part of the reason for all the weird things that are happening to their circus troupe. On that front, everyone is still growing appendages and some are disappearing or dying because of them and it was a little creepy and upsetting.

Overall, I found that there was more character development this time and I found myself connecting with more of the characters because of it. There are a lot of characters in this book, so if you are off-put by a large cast, this series might not be for you, but the author/illustrator does a good job both showing and telling which is great for a graphic novel.

I am excited to read the next installment, and we will see if it is the comclusion...

[Olivia Thames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now we are getting somewhere! While the first two volumes in the "Spectacle" series were enticing, the third instalment is when things take a turn for the interesting: not only on the mortal plane, but the in the ethereal plane too.

It's funny, I had an easier time writing a review for the fourth volume than I do for its precursor. This is not because the third volume is lacking what the fourth volume brings to the table, but because volume four is more of the explosion of TNT and volume three is the igniting of the fuse. You want the tease of cutting back to the spark sprinting down the fuse, but you do not want to linger on it. That is just boring.

What is not boring, and in fact what is the highlight of this volume, is how the topic of love in all of its forms is discussed throughout this installment. We see the ups and downs that comes with familial love for Anna and Kat, as well as Jebediah Tetanus and the ghosts who follow him from town to town. We also see the ebbs and flows (more so flows) of romantic love, such as in the case of Kat and Isabel where one is mortal and the other is not...some of the time. We learn from each, have our heartstrings tugged by each, and hopefully are better because of each.

Will these bonds be strong enough to face the evil that lurks every page in Volume Four? There is only one way to find out!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - It's interesting that the volume in this series that doesn't actually take place in the circus setting is my favorite so far. The storytelling in this third installment was much better, substantial clues were given, and I overall feel like I have a better understanding as to who these characters are.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in the series, and this one is not my favorite. It did reveal the murderer and the family secret it just got too tippy weird close to the end of this one. I still enjoy the character development and the story itself but it feels like at this point she’s trying to drag it out and I don’t like that.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying the weirdness of it all. Not sure where the mystery/monster/etc. is going, but the characters are good, the art is fun, and the story is compelling.
I like the addition of Isabel in vol. 3, and the spooky reveal from Anna & Kat's childhood.

Also, is the baddie Lil??

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only came back to this series because I thought this was the last volume. But then there's no resolution to basically anything. Either this isn't actually the last volume, or there will be no resolution. Either way, I think I'm done here.

[EmilyR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so good! I’ve never read anything like it before, and I feel like it keeps bringing up good twists and turns! This book has some creepy aspects to it that I really liked, I’m excited to see where this goes.

[August Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god this book was so good! Like the second book gave us almost nothing important development BUT THIS ONE oh my lord
So much I love it like just the way the store is going and I want more immediately

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging, fast-paced plot with magical powers and mystery.

Triggers and Content Warnings:
Specific content: p21 "She is defintely still sleeping with Michael."; "hussy"
Triggers: grief of losing a sister; LGBTQ (girls kissing), posession; demons, rituals

[Elia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh! This is getting so good! I hate that the books are this short!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wait, that was the ending? How? It was super rushed with no real closure. I was really hoping this last volume delivered a great ending, but I feel pretty let down.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The web connecting the characters grows more dense with each issue, and getting flashbacks of events past provides context and intrigue for the next volume!

[Amelia G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I desperately need volume 4, post-haste.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was most definitely not the last in a trilogy, not with that ending. Wth?

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're finally getting somewhere with the murder mystery. Onwards to the end!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot keeps thickening!

[Courtney Bagby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story keeps amping up!!!! We find out the story behind Kats bad dreams, Jebs ghost pals, and Ana’s love of Isabelle! Next next next!!!!!!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, since volumes 1 and 2 had 5 chapters each, I'm assuming that volume 3 will have 5, in which case, there are 7 pages to go!! I'm calling it now - 5 stars! I can't imagine something will happen in the next 7 pages that will make me like it less. I can't wait! Check it out: www.spectaclecomic.com

[Melissa Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now, this is more like it. The pacing of this volume was far better than what we’ve seen so far. It felt like more happened in volume three than in the last two combined.

As always I really enjoy the art style of this and how every page seems full of life. There’s a certain section that I won’t mention in detail as I don’t want to spoil anything, but the art direction of it was super cool.


I’m actually starting to get invested in the story and the developments made in this volume were really interesting. It feels like we are finally getting closer to finding out who killed Kat and the investigation is starting to get really fun. Especially as new characters are getting involved and it’s always nice to get character development.

You learn a lot more about Anna and Kat’s past and the small amount shown was intriguing, to say the least. As always with Spectacle, I feel like I am left with more unanswered questions, but this time I feel an actual need to want to find out more.

I’m really hoping the bar will continue to rise for this series and the next two instalments will bring the answers I am looking for.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The character growth of the girls is really blossoming in this volume. We learn so much about their past and the mystery finally feels like its getting underway.