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Ether #3
Ether, Vol. 3: The Disappearance of Violet Bell
From New York Times bestselling Mind MGMT creator MATT KINDT and Black Hammer's DAVID RUBÍN comes the third volume of this fantasy adventure that's Sherlock Holmes meets Dr. Seuss.
The Faerie King's daughter is missing and only portal jumper Boone Dias can track her down. Jumping from one magical crime scene to another he uncovers a bizarre plot featuring assassin eggs, weird pirates, ice deserts, and more noir absurdities.
Collecting issues #1-5 of Ether series III and featuring a sketchbook section with bonus art from Paul Azaceta, Kevin Nowlan, Gabriel Walta, and more.
The Faerie King's daughter is missing and only portal jumper Boone Dias can track her down. Jumping from one magical crime scene to another he uncovers a bizarre plot featuring assassin eggs, weird pirates, ice deserts, and more noir absurdities.
Collecting issues #1-5 of Ether series III and featuring a sketchbook section with bonus art from Paul Azaceta, Kevin Nowlan, Gabriel Walta, and more.
152 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2020
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80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 17, 2020
Matt Kindt really dumbs down the story in this third volume. The story is very simple and really just an excuse for David Rubin to really shine with his fantastical creations. The book looks like Dr. Seuss as seen through magic mushrooms. The two page action spreads are absolutely fantastic. I love how the characters flow across the page.
February 12, 2021
The conclusion of a three volume sci-fi/fantasy comics series where almost nothing matters except the pretty spectacular art (those colors! the invention!) of David Rubin. From the title you get that a villain may have captured The Faerie King's daughter Violet Bell. Portal jumper Boone Dias saves her. Peace is restored on this weird planet where lots of cool creatures abide. Take a look at the series maybe even without reading it and it'll be enjoyable.
April 15, 2020
Previously in Ether, I liked volume 1, and then thought volume 2 paled in comparison.
This volume is a lot better! It returns Kindt to the inventiveness of the first arc, having fun with the extraordinary world. This means more semi-magic gadgets, more monsters and weird environments.
It's not all good news. The actual disappearance of Violet Bell feels inconsequential, not only a red herring but unnecessary, perhaps. The big villain of the series feels underwritten, he barely makes an appearance, until the end, and his evil plan makes little sense. The ending feels rushed and isn't very satisfying.
I remain a big fan of Rubin's artwork, which is not only whimsical, but more importantly, it's fun.
(Read as five single issues)
This volume is a lot better! It returns Kindt to the inventiveness of the first arc, having fun with the extraordinary world. This means more semi-magic gadgets, more monsters and weird environments.
It's not all good news. The actual disappearance of Violet Bell feels inconsequential, not only a red herring but unnecessary, perhaps. The big villain of the series feels underwritten, he barely makes an appearance, until the end, and his evil plan makes little sense. The ending feels rushed and isn't very satisfying.
I remain a big fan of Rubin's artwork, which is not only whimsical, but more importantly, it's fun.
(Read as five single issues)
January 25, 2021
(4,3 of 5 of beautiful looking dark fantasy fairytale land - the conclusion)
I love the work fo David Rubín. Both stories and art. I have a tough relationship with Kindt's works, they ether annoy me or I quite like, or even love, them. But for me, the combination of Rubín and Kindt delivers. I really enjoyed the Ether series, all three books are great, same but different in the right aspects. This one, the (probably, you never know) the last one is a very nice ending of the whole story. It is a classic tale of "old hero goes one last time into action for sake of his redemption", but greatly executed, funny, thrilling and with a nice ending (kind of traditional, but it felt good and it was, once again, well-executed).
This was a great ride since the first book, I would love to see the whole thing in OHC. David Rubín's art totally deserves a bigger format.
I love the work fo David Rubín. Both stories and art. I have a tough relationship with Kindt's works, they ether annoy me or I quite like, or even love, them. But for me, the combination of Rubín and Kindt delivers. I really enjoyed the Ether series, all three books are great, same but different in the right aspects. This one, the (probably, you never know) the last one is a very nice ending of the whole story. It is a classic tale of "old hero goes one last time into action for sake of his redemption", but greatly executed, funny, thrilling and with a nice ending (kind of traditional, but it felt good and it was, once again, well-executed).
This was a great ride since the first book, I would love to see the whole thing in OHC. David Rubín's art totally deserves a bigger format.
August 30, 2020
Este tebeo cuenta una persecución bastante sencilla que se podía haber resuelto en 48 o 32 páginas. Sin embargo merece la pena toda la extensión que le han dado sus autores para disfrutar a un Rubin suelto como nunca (o, tal y como se le ve ahora, casi siempre). Hay páginas con tres viñetas que contienen historias que podrían haberse desarrollado en 24 páginas, unos diseños deliciosos y espectaculares y, sobre todo, una narrativa apabullante donde la secuencia de viñetas cambia constantemente, siempre ajustada a la acción. Un gran final para Ether.
May 15, 2024
I do think the overall art style was wrong for this story. The real world couldve been a little more realistic, making the art in the Ether more fantastical. Thats just my opinion. The story did finish strongly, making this the strongest volume.
March 27, 2021
All truth can be found through observation the only problem is that curiosity can kill the cat.
November 10, 2020
Casi un año después de leer seguidas las partes 1 (Ether. La muerte de la última Llama Dorada) y 2 (Ether, Vol. 2: Los gólems de cobre) con este tercer tomo se cierra de forma definitiva ¿o no? la historia de Bone Dias. En mi opinión el conjunto es más interesante que las partes y si algún día sacan un tomo recopilatorio creo que se podrá disfrutar mucho mejor de una historia más larga de golpe.
A este tomo por separado le voy a dar 4 estrellas **** me lo he pasado bien y me ha gustado el «universo paralelo» que ha creado David Rubín con sus dibujos y Matt Kindt con el guion.
A este tomo por separado le voy a dar 4 estrellas **** me lo he pasado bien y me ha gustado el «universo paralelo» que ha creado David Rubín con sus dibujos y Matt Kindt con el guion.
October 25, 2022
What Worked For Me:
- The setting and characters are certainly fantastical. This work shines in its visual variety and flights of fancy.
- The fanciful nature of the work means the art style has plenty of room to play with various artistic styles; as such, it absolutely stands out from many of its contemporaries. If I had to describe the work's "vibes," I'd call them, "neo-noir police procedural on acid."
- The juxtaposition of a magical world and a scientist protagonist is an interesting one; it's not a combination I see often. Full Metal Alchemist and Dr. Stone both come to mind, but neither has a setting as bizarre as Ether's.
- The trade version of the work includes author and artist's commentary, including extra sketches. I always love inclusions like this, both to learn more about the world of the work as well as the creators' creative process.
What Didn't:
- Apparently, this is actually the third trade in the Ether series. Though the Goodreads description makes this clear, the work itself certainly does not. This, in turn, meant that I spent a lot of the work wondering if I was missing something, even if I was able to parse out a lot thanks to context clues.
- The story moved at such a fast clip I often found myself struggling to connect with the characters or settings on display. It almost felt like the work was more a vehicle of the fantastical rather than its characters. (Then again, perhaps I would've been more invested if I had read the previous two trades first? It's hard to say.)
- The ending was fine, but the pace of the story meant it didn't hit particularly hard (for me).
Conclusion:
While I wish I had read the work in order, I still had enough fun to make it to the end of Ether. With that said, I'm not sure I liked the work enough to go back and read trades 1 and 2. I think it'll depend mostly on whether my local library has either available for rent; I don't see myself buying copies of the work to continue the experience. With all of that being said, if you want a comic that's bursting at the seams with "far out" characters and settings, this one is worth a look.
- The setting and characters are certainly fantastical. This work shines in its visual variety and flights of fancy.
- The fanciful nature of the work means the art style has plenty of room to play with various artistic styles; as such, it absolutely stands out from many of its contemporaries. If I had to describe the work's "vibes," I'd call them, "neo-noir police procedural on acid."
- The juxtaposition of a magical world and a scientist protagonist is an interesting one; it's not a combination I see often. Full Metal Alchemist and Dr. Stone both come to mind, but neither has a setting as bizarre as Ether's.
- The trade version of the work includes author and artist's commentary, including extra sketches. I always love inclusions like this, both to learn more about the world of the work as well as the creators' creative process.
What Didn't:
- Apparently, this is actually the third trade in the Ether series. Though the Goodreads description makes this clear, the work itself certainly does not. This, in turn, meant that I spent a lot of the work wondering if I was missing something, even if I was able to parse out a lot thanks to context clues.
- The story moved at such a fast clip I often found myself struggling to connect with the characters or settings on display. It almost felt like the work was more a vehicle of the fantastical rather than its characters. (Then again, perhaps I would've been more invested if I had read the previous two trades first? It's hard to say.)
- The ending was fine, but the pace of the story meant it didn't hit particularly hard (for me).
Conclusion:
While I wish I had read the work in order, I still had enough fun to make it to the end of Ether. With that said, I'm not sure I liked the work enough to go back and read trades 1 and 2. I think it'll depend mostly on whether my local library has either available for rent; I don't see myself buying copies of the work to continue the experience. With all of that being said, if you want a comic that's bursting at the seams with "far out" characters and settings, this one is worth a look.
June 6, 2025
Esta última parte de Ether funciona como un cierre pero supongo que también como una posibilidad de futuro con otro personaje?? No lo tengo claro. Es más de lo mismo respecto a los volúmenes anteriores, es una historia bastante sencilla en concepción y desarrollo donde todo (y digo TODO) queda muy a la inventiva y exploración de este mundo por parte de David Rubín. Aunque entiendo que es un trabajo colaborativo se nota mucho que el arte de Rubín, su imaginación desbordante en la creación del universo y sus criaturas, es lo que verdaderamente destaca. A lo largo de los tres tomos Ether se asienta como un cómic muy de dibujos animados, que busca ser original y colorido en sus páginas, divertido de ver, pero cuya trama es muy prototípica. Ojo, está bien, es entretenido.
Se supone que Boone ha madurado y bueno, puedo llegar a verlo (aunque muy levemente), pero durante gran parte de esta historia sigue siendo el mismo Boone que te provoca facepalms continuos. La relación entre él y Violeta me ha dado exactamente igual. Seguramente he echado en falta algo más de profundidad en su dramatismo, se me queda muy en la superficie, no me llega a un nivel emocional, pero es muy imaginativo visualmente y en la creación de lugares, elementos y personajes. Si lo quieres coger, que sea sobre todo para disfrutar del arte de Rubín, que nos deja una factura técnica de gran calidad. La trama es muy sencillita. Aventuras y colorinchis.
Se supone que Boone ha madurado y bueno, puedo llegar a verlo (aunque muy levemente), pero durante gran parte de esta historia sigue siendo el mismo Boone que te provoca facepalms continuos. La relación entre él y Violeta me ha dado exactamente igual. Seguramente he echado en falta algo más de profundidad en su dramatismo, se me queda muy en la superficie, no me llega a un nivel emocional, pero es muy imaginativo visualmente y en la creación de lugares, elementos y personajes. Si lo quieres coger, que sea sobre todo para disfrutar del arte de Rubín, que nos deja una factura técnica de gran calidad. La trama es muy sencillita. Aventuras y colorinchis.
March 20, 2022
And just like that, it's over. This third volume jumps things forward given the rather dire ending of the second volume and things don't look better. Our science hero protagonist has become a bit of a recluse and it is revealed how the party fell apart and Violet Bell had been taken by enemy forces with her location still a mystery. For the most part, it feels as if all is lost. And that makes for a compelling place for this last leg of the story to begin.
This third and final volume didn't quite answer all my questions about how Boone became the man he is, but we do get enough to understand his core motivations and how his nature also became his undoing with respect to his family and those closest to him. And I appreciate how he eventually comes to understand himself better, too - and this leads directly to how things end.
It's not the greatest ending around and I kind of wish we had another volume's worth stories to further flesh things out and explore more of the journey to get to the end. The final confrontation made sense, but I wouldn't have minded a few more complications along the way before getting to the end.
This third and final volume didn't quite answer all my questions about how Boone became the man he is, but we do get enough to understand his core motivations and how his nature also became his undoing with respect to his family and those closest to him. And I appreciate how he eventually comes to understand himself better, too - and this leads directly to how things end.
It's not the greatest ending around and I kind of wish we had another volume's worth stories to further flesh things out and explore more of the journey to get to the end. The final confrontation made sense, but I wouldn't have minded a few more complications along the way before getting to the end.
September 18, 2021
This volume jumped forward in time and referenced some big events during the skipped time frame. It felt like I had missed an entire volume. Boone still wasn't very likable, and Grandor felt like a character who was desined just to annoy Boone the way that Boone annoys other characters.
There was a lot of new lore in this, but at the expense of building more affection for the characters. This volume felt like the creative team had to wrap up the story faster than it should have been.
All that being said, the creature design and art was fantastic. I love the bio-technology in this world.
There was a lot of new lore in this, but at the expense of building more affection for the characters. This volume felt like the creative team had to wrap up the story faster than it should have been.
All that being said, the creature design and art was fantastic. I love the bio-technology in this world.
January 18, 2022
The story is okay here. I feel like I didn't really connect with it. Maybe that's why it felt a bit rushed to me. All the characters are here, but I couldn't really tell you what they did. The real draw here is the artwork. It is a vessel for David Rubín's creations. The art is fantastic, not only in the superb quality but also the inventive tapestries of the Ether. This whole world is so bright and vibrant. I liked all the variant covers at the back of the book too.
September 27, 2020
El último tomo de Ether no ofrece nada nuevo ni que mejore el nivel de las dos primeras entregas. La trama sigue siendo manida a más no poder, recurriendo a una suerte de mejunje entre viaje del héroe y fantasía histriónica con trazos inocentones de ciencia y racionalidad. En lo que se limita a este cómic, el final es abrupto y desdibuja por completo el papel del villano de la historia. El arte de Rubín sigue sobrecargado y saturado de colorido, con diseños exagerados de personajes y lugares que parecen prefabricados para ser molones.
November 8, 2024
(3,5)
Al igual que me pasó con el volumen 2, creo que la trama está poco aprovechada. En concreto, los personajes corales -que ya son buenos- podrían haber hecho de Ether una saga memorable con más páginas y un poquito de profundidad. Me ha decepcionado un poco la sensación final tras la lectura, porque a nivel de originalidad y diseño gráfico se trata de una de las sagas más atractivas que he encontrado recientemente, pero considero que le falta recorrido.
Al igual que me pasó con el volumen 2, creo que la trama está poco aprovechada. En concreto, los personajes corales -que ya son buenos- podrían haber hecho de Ether una saga memorable con más páginas y un poquito de profundidad. Me ha decepcionado un poco la sensación final tras la lectura, porque a nivel de originalidad y diseño gráfico se trata de una de las sagas más atractivas que he encontrado recientemente, pero considero que le falta recorrido.
August 3, 2020
Maybe it is just because I started watching Midnight Gospel that this now comes to me, but has this always just been Adventure Time with Finn as a jerk and everything fueled by more violence and fantasy drugs?
This is a long filler episode with an event at the end that I was not that emotionally invested in to care about.
Still cool to look at and a fun world to travel through though.
This is a long filler episode with an event at the end that I was not that emotionally invested in to care about.
Still cool to look at and a fun world to travel through though.
June 19, 2025
By far the most blah installment in this series. The art's still vivid, and you see some more cool creatures (the smiling campfire elemental stood out, along with the farting bird). But nobody does anything in this one. Not even bicker, really. They just kind of stare at each other.
MPA ratings:
R for violence, gore, and nudity
PG for language, smoking, and rude humor
MPA ratings:
R for violence, gore, and nudity
PG for language, smoking, and rude humor
November 28, 2025
Me encanta en universo que plantea y me alucina el dibujo de Rubin y la cantidad de recursos que utiliza. Me falla un poco que la historia abandone tan rápido el conflicto humano para quedarse en una sucesión de aventurillas sin esa capa emocional de la que hacía gala en el primer número. Historia cerrada pero que no resuelve muchas de las incógnitas que plantea.
July 9, 2024
Okay so it does seem to lose some of the story line for a while there, but it does wrap up nicely in the end, with a very valuable lesson. (for me anyway) lol
All in All i give the whole series a 3.7ish
All in All i give the whole series a 3.7ish
August 12, 2025
I think it's a satisfying end to Boone's story, but not the whole Ether story -- the common thread of the first two volumes was Ubel's rise to power, but then he's barely present for the finale. Still, we do at least see Boone's conclusion, and the art is amazing as always.
September 27, 2020
Como cómic aventuras bien, como final bastante justo...
May 3, 2021
While I absolutely loved this series, this one felt like the most rushed of the three.
August 27, 2021
Art was great story was rushed but it was all good fun. Definitely expected a little more.
August 29, 2021
A truly weird mash-up of science and sorcery that oscillates widely in tone and appearance. This will likely provide a really compelling experience for some, but if did not for me.
October 13, 2021
How do you save what you care for, if you might be the infection? Finding an answer to evil, can be challenging.
March 10, 2022
4.5 Stars [Liked It+] The ending was kinda abrupt and a little anticlimactic but overall a really good series with rad art and really solid dialogue.
June 24, 2022
Lovely art. Awful story? Boone Dias is a selfish man, basically. Doesn’t even admit it in these words, and instead says he’s been sacrificing everything and everyone else for the greater good. Welp.
September 22, 2022
Didn't realise this was volume 3... need to borrow the first two :)
December 20, 2022
This series is kind of losing me. I'll hang in there for a bit, but I really have lost the narrative at this point.
April 29, 2023
Decent wrap-up of the series, with the imagery at its phantasmagorical best.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews