Say it with me, now. We’re. Having. Fun!

Written/Created by: David Ebeltoft; Jordan Hart

Penciler/Inker/Colorist: Chiara Raimondi

Story: David Ebeltoft

Letterer/Designer: Jordan Hart

Editor: Chris Ryall

Cover A: Chiara Raimondi & Jordan Hart

Covers B, C & D: Marguerite Sauvage

Art Director: Ashley Wood

Coordinator: Gregory Prout

Publisher: SYZYGY PUBLISHING

Written By: @ivanadoit2

HA! 

Aggressive start, I know. But that’s the sound that came out of my mouth so many times when reading the third issue of “The Cabinet.” I had the most fun.

It’s been a minute since I’d read the first issue and didn’t have the chance to read the second. I was worried that meant I had missed something incredibly important to the storyline and wouldn’t be able to follow. Luckily, that was not the case. The artwork and world-building from issue one was so captivating that it all came flooding back as soon as I opened up issue 3. And I appreciated the “Last Time On The Cabinet” blurb that caught me up on what went down in issue 2. 

Right out the gate, we got a reference to “The Shining!” You better believe I said, “hm?!” and quickly followed with “HA!” As a Spooky Queen – I was tickled! So FUN!

Let’s talk for a second about our protagonist, Avani. She was incredibly endearing. The depth of her character that was so evident in the art and dialogue had me fully in her corner. While she constantly fought to propel her goals forward, her mannerisms and the way she presented herself (clothing, accessories, hairstyle, etc.) suggested that she was stuck in time. My heart was wrenching for Avani when it dawned on me that, maybe, those elements were an outward expression of her hope that she could fix the earth-shattering mistake that turned her world upside down and, finally, go back to being who she was. *My opinion as an unsolicited, untrained, and uncertified psychologist.*

And, now – for the villains. 

What kind of self-proclaimed Spooky Queen would I be without a love of villains? Freyja (a.k.a. ‘Little Field Clerk’) and Gorbelly were a complimentary duo. Think ‘Jay and Silent Bob’ but if Jay was a gigantic viking-esque chatty zaddy and Silent Bob was a manic pixie blood-magic wielding goth goddess. 

They were so (say it with me) FUN! Which told me they most definitely were NOT our final bosses of this story. Just a couple of work besties – but not the kind you send out for a coffee run.

“The Cabinet” doesn’t take itself too seriously and neither does the team behind it. I was able to be fully along for the ride and lose myself in the beautiful and captivating storytelling. There weren’t overly complicated panels or the use of super cryptic images or dialogue that had me reading and re-reading sections of the story. I. JUST. HAD. FUN! The love they have for this story is obvious – even in the tiniest of details.

I won’t say much else or spoil anything for you, but I will say that  creator Jordan Hart described “The Cabinet” series as “unrestrained artistic expression in the weirdest and wildest of ways.” So if you read and notice some pump-up high tops, remember that “even villains get plantar fasciitis.”

OK, I lied. I’ll say one more thing. Jordan (in collaboration with his brother – EDM artist, Cinnaron) created a Metal song specifically inspired by the band t-shirt worn by Avani’s sidekick, Trent. Do some neck stretches before head-banging to “Power Cloak” by Süplexx on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. I’d recommend playing it while reading the book!

5 out of 5 doodads