Sgt. Flag #3 - G-Man Comics

SGT. FLAG No. 3, October 2023

For those comic book fans who want to simply enjoy a titular character essentially going on a twenty-page killing spree then Rik Offenberger’s narrative for Issue Three of “Sgt. Flag” should definitely fit their bill, courtesy of Rob McFarlane’s solo suicide mission aboard an alien spacecraft. True, this publication doesn’t resultantly contain too much in character development for the “one-man extraction team”. But it does rather delightfully depict a super-hero who for once actually “enjoys the violence as much as the reader does”, and quite novelly relishes the challenge of facing almost certain death too.

Furthermore, in between the high octane action sequences and increasing extra-terrestrial body count, this periodical does quite surprisingly still manage to show some deeper insights into its secondary cast – most notably Christopher Squires, who genuinely appears to care for the smart-mouthed gunslinger so much that he actually attempts to persuade Flag into refusing Simon N. Kirby’s assignment. Indeed, considering just how loyal the F.B.I. operative has been to the G-Men’s leader in past storylines, his sudden willingness to rebel against his boss' wishes produces a genuinely shocking moment.

Of course, all eyes will predominantly focus upon McFarlane’s desperate attempt to reach both the space invader’s hangar and engine room, before facing the disconcertingly mysterious Alien Singularity who kidnapped Atomik Bombshell. This series of head-long “Bonsai!” battles does not disappoint, with the protagonist impressively utilising all manner of man-made firearms and witty wisecracks, as well as the little yellow spacemen’s own advanced weaponry, against his would-be assailants; “More bugs! And it’s not even my birthday!”

Ultimately, such an intense rodeo of a ride in a comic debatably lives or dies on the quality of its artwork, and Gilbert Monsanto's dynamic drawings do not disappoint. There’s a palpable energy to the freelancer’s pencilling which really adds to such instances as Sgt. Flag’s less than subtle infiltration of the UFO, the visible concern Agent Squires has for his comrade-in-arms, and even the draining physical cost to Mummy Girl’s utterly exhausting teleportation tricks. In fact, the illustrator’s double-splash of Rob gunning, kicking and crushing his abundant foes simultaneously is well worth the cover price of this book alone.

Written by: Rik Offenberger, Art by: Gilbert Monsanto, and Letters by: Mike W. Belcher