Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Art by Robert Wilson IV
Review by Alex Krefetz 

Possibly my favorite comic being published and only 3 issues in, I guess it’s an understatement that I expected Bitch Planet #3 to be another flawless entry. DeConnick had long said that every third issue would serve as a deeper look at one specific character. This first iteration clued the reader in on some of Penny Rolle, the biggest badass of the book in every sense of both words. As Penny is brought before a group of men looking to reform her, we are brought flashbacks of Penny’s youth alongside her conversation in the present.

Taking a step away from the overall story after just two issues seemed a little too soon. In a book like this, where many questions are sure to go unanswered in the first few issues, it would have helped to ground the main story more before moving on to these individual tales. That being said, what is here is very well done and gives more substance to a character readers have already shown interest in despite not knowing much about Penny. While I hate to make comparisons to Orange is the New Black, it definitely has a similar feel to episodes that focused on a few of the other characters and how they came to prison. That’s not to say each of these stories needs to be about a specific crime each prisoner commits; again, characters in this world are labeled as criminals for not conforming. If you were hoping to see Penny wail on countless cops, you won’t quite find that here. Instead is a much more personal story about a woman trying to live her own life.

This issue also had a change in art, with Robert Wilson IV taking over for series regular Valentine De Lando. In only two issues (I can’t emphasize that number enough it seems), De Lando had made a marked impression on the book and was the only person I wanted to draw this series. Of course, guest artists are always appreciated and fitting into a one-shot side story is the best way to give De Lando time to finish up the regular story. Wilson does an admirable job keeping close to the set style, but doesn’t quite hit the mark in the same way. Whereas colors in De Lando’s issues did a great job combining modern style with older print-style dot coloring, the two styles have been segmented. Flashbacks with that old time-y look are certainly fun to read, but I did prefer the original style to this split. These gripes aside, I thought the book still looked good and made for an enjoyable read.

At three issues in, it may have been too risky for many series to have a side story. Bitch Planet #3 manages to pull it off well enough, though not to the caliber of the first two issues. That aside, the story of Penny Rolle is one that everyone should take the time to read. This issue is a great jumping on point for those who want to know the general thesis of this book – things are bad for women, and strong women will be the ones to make change.

4 muffins out of 5