The thematic focus of this limited series, especially in the final three issues, has been about as subtle as a piano falling from the sky and landing on your Chihuahua. Three Strikes has been about choices and taking responsibility for those choices. At first, I thought it was going to be the younger Rey Quintana to which I'd relate more, but it's Noah, the divorced ex-cop who's really proven to be the figure that's interested me the most here. DeFilippis and Weir's book takes its title from a controversial political move in the justice system, but not surprisingly, it's the characters that stand out as the real reason to read this story.
Rey Quintana's on the run now, but not just for skipping out on his bail on a shoplifting charge. No, now there's a dead body in a Las Vegas convenience store, and his is the finger that pulled the trigger. Things just keep getting worse for Rey, and he realizes that he's to blame. Meanwhile, Noah Conway feels responsible for Rey's plight. He knows Rey's life as he knew it is over, but the bail enforcement officer is determined that the kid's life isn't going to end literally.
Hurtt's brings remarkable realism to this story, both in his portrayal of the characters and the settings. He cleverly eliminates the backgrounds at times, though, to isolate the characters, reinforcing the sadness, desperation and fear that's come over them. Hurtt's style reminds me of the work of Joe (E-Man) Staton, but Hurtt's art doesn't boast the same exaggerated quality that I find distracting in some of Staton's work. Hurtt's a remarkably strong artist that can tell human and gritty stories, and I'm pleased he's found his way to a wider audience courtesy a recent fillin job on DC's Gotham Central.
I love the strong parallels between Rey and Noah in this story. Both characters have two women in their lives -- Noah has his daughter and ex, and Rey has his mother and girlfriend -- and by this final chapter, both are realizing they are responsible for the moves they've made. Which one is responsible for Rey's plight? Both are, in different ways. Rey represents personal choice, and Noah represents the influence of ill-advised social policy that fails to recognize the little differences in individual cases.
Despite the parallels, there are differences at play here as well, and I love the notion of Rey's public defender acting as a bridge between Noah's and Rey's worlds. There was remarkable chemistry between her and Noah earlier in the series, and I honestly hope the writers consider bringing Noah Conway back for another story, if only to see something come of that connection.
