On the trail of alien technology, the Free Agents collide with L.A.’s own Superstar. But does the actual threat come from one of their own? Your Major Spoilers review of Free Agents #3 from Image Comics awaits!

FREE AGENTS #3

Writer: Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza
Artist: Stephen Mooney
Colorist: Triona Tree Farrell
Letterer: Richard Starkings and Comicraft’s Tyler Smith
Editor: Kel Symons
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 4, 2024

Previously in Free Agents: The trail of the stolen Breach-tech leads the Free Agents to Los Angeles… and they smack into a confrontation with the celebrity hero Superstar, who isn’t wild about extra-dimensional aliens busting stuff up on his turf.

And hey, is that Radiant Black sniffing around the Agents, too? What’s that all about?

HE’S BACK!

Things are getting tense at Breakpoint 10 station, as Barrage has taken command once more and insists that the team follow a more regimented combat training and readiness schedule. Katari, who lost an arm during the last issue, is trying to get used to the function of her new one, while Chalice only wants to get back to her civilian life and college classes. As for Salvo and Shakti, they’ve been sent to Los Angeles to investigate what may be stolen technology, only to find that it seems to be tied somehow to the local hero, Superstar, who is powered by the adulation of his fans. That’s when things go really wrong, as Free Agent Ridge (who has the intellect of a child) is a massive Superstar fan, and his own superpowers send the hero into overdrive!

That’s when the team finds out they’re not the ONLY ones monitoring alien technology in the pages of Image Comics.

NOW WHERE’S THE LIBERTY PROJECT?

The appearance of Radiant Black on the final page seems to promise a three-way battle in the next issue, but I don’t think I’ll take anything for granted in this book. I appreciate the way each of the characters has their own voice and motivations, but that ends up being one of the difficulties, as the team members aren’t on the same page about anything. The moments where Jon/Ridge recognizes an undercover Superstar while his teammates don’t understand him are great, but everything involving Barrage’s hard-nosed command and the responses to it feels a bit off. My instincts tell me that the once-and-former commanding officer is a villain, but the story is keeping that under wraps. Mooney’s art is once again wonderfully detailed, with strong proportions and body language, but the tendency toward stiff facial expressions feels even more prevalent than in the last issue.

BOTTOM LINE: MIDDLE CHAPTER SYNDROME

While I am enjoying the long game and the world-building of Free Agents #3, those same elements are causing me the most frustration, but I’m still inclined to give these creators the benefit of the doubt, at least through the first full arc, with the issue earning 3 out of 5 stars overall. I’m also wondering if we will get more crossovers with ongoing Image and/or Massiveverse comics.

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FREE AGENTS #3

60%

60%

Feels A Bit On The Slow Side

Something feels entirely off with Barrage and it's hard to square the team feeling this off-kilter when we barely know them, but there's still a lot of potential here.

• Writing

  5
• Art

  7
• Coloring

  6
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
  0