KISS #3
Written by Tom Waltz
Art by Casey Maloney
Inks by Marc Rueda
Colors by Joan I. Guardiet
Letters by Shawn Lee
Edited by Chris Ryall
Covers by Casey Maloney, Xermanico & Michael Gaydos
IDW Publishing
Release Date: August 8, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

KISS #3 is another AMAZING issue from the folks at IDW!!! The great thing about this book is that it’s a different title almost every month. You’re not sure where you’re going to end up when you pick up an issue. This issue is fantastic for a number of reasons, but most of all, because it’s a total 180 from the first two issues.

Tom Waltz get handed the reins for this arc, and first off let me say, if you’re not reading his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title, you’re really missing out. That aside, his inaugural issue of KISS brings a totally different vibe than the first two issues, and that’s one of the great things. The other great things — KISS BARBARIANS!!!

I gotta tell you, the more I read this title, the more I love it. This issue, in particular, reminds me, in a VERY good way, of a classic KISS Marvel comic. The premise is so simple and natural that it’s brilliant, and that’s what makes it so entertaining. Waltz creates a natural flow to this book, nothing is forced or shoved into place for the sake of storytelling. He, in one issue, creates a valid purpose for the forming of the members of KISS to team up and fight the Destroyer. VERY well written comic!

Casey Maloney is a natural choice to pencil this chapter in the comic. He excels at medieval barbarian type scenery and characters and, also, at an awesome rock and roll band!! Each of the band members is introduced in their own environment and each is as different as the members of KISS themselves. Maloney perfects each one’s introduction and surroundings, yet as different as they are, he places them all in the same “world,” if you will, and they all blend seamlessly together. This issue had the potential to be a literal bloodbath, and I have to hand it to Maloney, there was nothing gratuitous about it at all. Granted, I don’t know if I’d hand this book off to a 10-year-old, but it could’ve been a lot more gory “just because” and instead it was tastefully done and very entertaining.

One hell of an entertaining read is what we have here, people! Whether you’re part of the KISS Army or not, you’re going to really like this book. Yes, it’ll help if you know who the band members’ “characters” are, but at this point, who doesn’t? Very highly recommended.