Divinity III: Escape From
Gulag 396 –
Valiant Comics
Written by Eliot Rahal
Art by Francis Portela
Colors by Andrew Dalhouse
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Acts of true altruism are a bit hard to find. I’m not just talking about now, or any specific time, that is more of a general statement. It’s not necessarily because they don’t exist, but it could be because those aren’t the stories that get told, heard or printed. In a world full of oppression, Valiant Comics sets out to find such a story with the Divinity III tie-in, Escape From Gulag 396.
One thing I can tell you, which isn’t really a spoiler, is that this is a very unconventional and different Archer & Armstrong story. For those two, that is saying something, but follow me on this. Gulag 396 is the last prison you want to go to, because death is the only way out. It should be no surprise in the current Stalinverse, that religious beliefs are something that may put you there. That’s where Obadiah Archer finds himself for his belief in God, but it’s the tragic circumstances of his capture that really send him on the path he takes in this story. I will not spoil that, but it really grabs you and makes you wonder how he keeps his mindset. Once inside, he does not stop, which leads him to a very unique situation as an inmate in this prison. This is where the second half of the duo comes in. If you haven’t read any of the Divinity III arc so far (which you should be, by the way), then this interaction will seem VERY odd to you. Go with it, because what happens at the end of this book is something truly great. It’s a twist you might be able to guess is coming, but will still leave you with a smile and a nod.
No matter what your faith is, or even if you don’t have religious beliefs, this is still a story that you can absolutely read, enjoy and relate to. What Rahal has done here is shown a complete devotion to a belief system, and even to mankind as a whole, in the darkest of times for humanity. It’s also a feel good story in what has been, up to this point, a very dark and haunting storyline (albeit a damn good one.) One thing I found myself doing is, wondering what I would do and how I would react in a similar situation. To me, that is one of the big marks of a good story, especially if you’re only getting one bite at the apple. Then you match that with the stunning art by Francis Portela, and this is a book I could easily see myself picking up and reading again. From the writing, art and across the board, Divinity III as a whole may be the most consistently great major arc in comics in the last few years. It was nice to see that trend continue with this book.
RATING: PULL / BUY