Artemis & The Assassin #3 - AfterShock Comics

ARTEMIS & THE ASSASSIN No. 3, July 2020

Whilst readers of a comic based upon the exploits of a time-travelling killer would understandably be expected to employ a willing suspension of disbelief during Issue Three of “Artemis And The Assassin”, it’s probably doubtful that many could cope with some of Stephanie Phillips’ more outlandish plot-threads for this particular publication. Indeed, having been almost fatally shot in the shoulder by her World War Two target and resultantly started bleeding out, the suggestion that Maya could subsequently throw punches during a mass fist-fight that are strong enough to fell a man with a single blow is debatably pushing the boat out a little too far. 

Disconcertingly however, that is precisely what occurs within the American author’s narrative for “It’s Just Time Travel”, as the seemingly always angry murderer and the utterly befuddled spy Virginia Hall, somehow manage to successfully escape the clutches of six heavily-armed gunmen in the Wild West. Sure, the pair’s repeated bravado in the face of having numerous pistols, rifles and shotguns rammed up against their heads certainly marks them out as two truly remarkable central protagonists. Yet it’s debatably difficult to imagine that ruthless desperados such as Dynamite Dutch Henderson would ever tolerate such aggressive resistance as the girls give him, especially when it later becomes clear his men mean to kill them anyway. 

Luckily though, this twenty-page periodical doesn’t just dwell upon events occurring in Goldfield, “the best city in Arizona”, in 1875, but also includes plenty of insight into the sheer scope of the Nine’s homicidal operation in the distant future. Isak’s confrontation with a disgruntled customer shows just how serious things can get when one of his cold-blooded agents fails in their job, plus the inclusion of Toby and the fifteen-century ninja, Akechi, demonstrates just how varied the corporation’s agents actually are; “Bring me a jumper, Bryon. I’ll deal with the other situation myself. If you want something done right…”

Equally as enjoyable as this comic’s exploration of Maya’s peers is Francesca Fantini’s artwork, which goes a long way to helping project the sheer violence of the world Phillips’ has created with this mini-series. Toby’s super-fast slaughter of some terrorists shows just how lethal the modern-day military sniper can be when the situation calls for it, whilst the Italian illustrator’s layouts involving Henderson’s violent assault upon his two supposedly helpless prisoners imbues the scene with an added layer of sheer physical brutality.

Writer & Creator: Stephanie Phillips, and Artist: Francesca Fantini