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Criminal Macabre: Cell Block 666 #3

Writer: Steve Niles
Artist: Nick Stakal
Well the double dare challenge in Steve Niles newest CRIMINAL MACABRE series CELLBLOCK 666 is to keep his main character grounded in reality while taking a shortcut through witchcraft. Thing is, once you cross that line, there’s no going back, even if it is a one time gig. Because if Cal McDonald never uses a magic trick again, it will always be questioned against him and writer Steve Niles as to why he used it in the first place. Granted, Cal is sitting in a jail cell, getting death threats from other prisoners and beatdowns from the guards, he’s still been through worse. And that’s a particularly good memory to not only draw the symbol on the prison grounds, but also to recite the words without coughing through it like a certain beloved king of deadites. I’m not sure if Steve Niles is transitioning his baby boy to the next level of supernatural war, or if he’s stretching it a bit like gum on a shoe... on a hot summer day. I guess fans like me will have to wait and see on what Cal McDonald will become in his crazy, nighttime adventures.

The art is good from Nick Stakal, but feels a little rushed at times in this issue. Not sure if that’s from the light coloring on Michelle Madsen’s part, or if a deadline for everyone was too close to care for in the lines, but it does show in some panels. I can definitely see the passion behind Mo’Lock tearing off a head from another ghoul, but I don’t see the appeal afterwards where Mo’Lock takes that head to Cal McDonald for a little talk slash story exposition. Not to mention a lettering mistake on page four causing a little confusion between ghouls beating each other up, this issue speaks rush and run a little bit. But hey, it could all be just a funny magic trick in setting up issue four to rock the socks off Cal McDonald readers. “The voodoo that you do” is keeping track of what Cal can and can’t do. Here’s hoping Mr. Niles can explain this one in the series ender.