Building off of two excellent comics to start the series, the third issue of Eric Powell’s “Chimichanga”
continues to impress.

It’s also full of surprises.

Through the first two issues, it appeared that Dagmar the Witch, while being an integral part of the series, would play second fiddle to Dinderly, the head of a huge Pharmaceutical chain with enormous pull economically and politically.

Without giving anything away, lets just say that plan is out the window, but the series couldn’t be in a better situation because of it. Unlike Powell’s other series, “The Goon,” where an already dead Labrazio and the undead priest were the main baddies, with no deaths coming until much later, this series has had a few characters apparently leave the series- for good.

With a seamless transition that focuses on Lula and Chimi, the Powell critics have absolutely no ammunition.

On its own merits, this is a comic that although artistically similar, has nothing in common with any of Powell’s other work. While the friendship between The Goon and Frankie is an integral part of that series, the relationship between Lula and Chimi is completely different. Without a doubt, both Goon and Frankie can handle themselves physically and don’t need each other the same way Lula and Chimi do. Simply put, without each other, these characters would be lost and as a result, seeing them grow and further establish a bond is perhaps the best reason to read the comic.

Aside from that, seeing other characters the likes of Wrinkle and Horacio, the boy-faced fish help Lula is hilarious. Continuing to play with the ’80s sitcom kind of feel the comic has at times, both Wrinkle and Horacio seem to have been stuck in an episode of “Charles in Charge,” with the two looking like Scott Baio and Willie Aames, getting into trouble and trying to fix it by any means they can. Developing these characters makes the series even stronger and gives the reader a sense of family within the circus that wasn’t quite there through the first two issues.

Also apparent in this issue is much more attention being paid to close up art, as Chimi’s face [and the faces of the other characters as well] is put on full display in some of the best looking art in the series thus far. Asking more of himself as an artist, Powell’s style is beginning to develop here, as far as giving this series its own distinct look. Playing with shadows and light more than ever before, you can’t ask for more, especially considering the monochrome nature of the book.

With that being said, continuing the fun,yet deceivingly smart story and bringing the goods artistically, the third issue of “Chimichanga” delivers.

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