Crowbound #3 is written by Jeff Lemire and published by Image Comics. Artwork is by Dustin Nguyen and letters by Steve Wands. Main cover art (left) is by Dustin Nguyen.
Crowbound #3 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Ava Lee shouldn’t be here. Trapped in the Factory Men’s caravan, being transported across the swamplands. Ava Lee never did anything wrong. She was supposed to have one more year with her momma. But she’ll get that year back, and more, if Rose has anything to say about it…
Review
The powerhouse duo Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, who have given us countless masterpieces over the years, have teamed up again to present their newest creation, Crowbound. Now in its third issue, it seems like the right time to take a step back and see whether this new series of theirs lives up to the standards of their previous collaborations or falls remarkably short.
So far, Crowbound has shown that it carries over some of the best aspects of the duo’s prior Image Comics releases, namely Descender and Ascender. Nguyen’s signature watercolour artwork gives the series a distinct style that is all his own, blending atmospheric visual worldbuilding with a natural sense of beauty that comes with that specific approach. However, the narrative and pacing, on the other hand, are where some cracks start to form.
The story itself is far from the problem, as Rose’s journey to get her daughter back is the emotional driving force of the entire series. Lemire makes sure there is a seamless cohesion between the world, characters and tone that keeps you initially hooked, while the narrative at the centre of it all is what urges the reader to dive deeper into the very universe they have created. Issue 3 leans into this sentiment heavily as Ava Lee continues to be just out of Rose’s reach, keeping you on the edge of your seat, never knowing if they’ll ever reunite again.
Though the series is still in its early stages, some have noted the slow pacing and lack of immediate answers regarding certain things within the world and how it operates. Firstly, those answers many seek aren’t going to be answered immediately. One of Lemire and Nguyen’s strongest achievements in titles such as Descender is how they withheld certain information just for the right time. Descender was also a series that started off small in scale, later expanding into something grander and more expansive.
Yes, the pacing of that comic was a little bit snappier than what is presented here, but given the themes being explored in Crowbound, along with the dreamlike creatures and environments Rose encounters along the way, it’s evident that this is a story that undoubtedly needs time to blossom and grow. The third issue definitely moves, visually and thematically, into darker territory, and it’s clear that something bigger, maybe more ethereal, is around the corner for this story and these characters. Some readers just need to let the series breathe and take its time, as the creators intended.
Crowbound shows no signs of slowing down. Nguyen’s artwork is at its best here, riding the line between being unsettling and captivating at the same time, while Lemire works his magic, writing gripping dialogue and a central journey that propels every panel forward. It may not reach the heights of something like Descender, but with time it could very much reach that level or even surpass it.
Verdict
Crowbound continues to put its best foot forward with some of the best artwork and worldbuilding of any comic in 2026. What it may lack in some areas is more than made up for by the incredible character designs, chilling atmosphere and the emotional journey that keeps you invested.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are also members of the Forbidden Planet Affiliate Program.
