I can't help but think that if something like this were written for DC or Marvel, it'd be selling gangbusters, lauded as a totally different take on super-heroes. But it's an indy book with a character whose history in the 1970s is fabricated, and so it's not as high on people's radar as it should be. This third issue is actually the most compelling so far, not only delving further into the murder that has driven the story to this point but giving us a lot more insight into our tortured protagonist, playing up the noir stylings of the book. With Cheeseman-Meyer staying onboard to give the book a consistent look from two to three and the story really heating up, The Forgotten is really hitting its stride, just in time to lead into what I hope will be a terrific conclusion.
Though we've had hints of who Clarence a.k.a. Mr. Mystery was, it wasn't until this third issue that we really delved into the main character's past, and what Young and Grealish have planted there is fascinating. There's is a world where the heroes don't live happily ever after, or receive the justice they deserve. It seems clear that Clarence suffered terrible personal losses, of friends and love, and the effect in this issue is heart-wrenching. It's moreso when you consider that Clarence, for all his pain, is still trying to do what's right, even though no one will remember him doing it.
Of course, one of the side stories is an exploration of characters who want his heroic deeds remembered, and I'm curious to see how that will turn out. The reporter and student who are both exploring the character may have different motives, and they may even have caused complications for the character in this issue rather than helping him, but the desire to explore the life of a man who for all intents and purposes doesn't exist leads to some interesting storytelling. I was particularly pleased by the clever scene in which Clarence is in the same cafe with the people who have been tracking him, but they forget all about him when he leaves the site.
The plot of The Forgotten is multi-layered, but perfectly clear for the reader as well. I enjoyed seeing that the mob boss who was once a suspect is still involved in the story, as a potential complication or a potential ally, and that we still don't really know who murdered Flowers or why, although we have spotted the bad guy of the piece by now. I suspect the final issue will have a twist when it comes to revealing who the murderer was.
One thing that can sink a series, especially a mini-series, is rotating artists, and I'm a bit nervous to find that The Forgotten is getting its third regular artist to finish out the book. However, given that I have enjoyed Cheeseman-Meyer's work as much or more than I did the work of John Forcucci on the first issue, I'm inclined to give the next artist a chance as well. It'll be a shame to see Cheeseman-Meyer go, however, because he has done a great job of giving the book a sense of place, of depicting the older and scarred-by-life protagonist and in fact bringing the entire cast of characters to life. I was also pleased to see that some of my complaints about the black on white lettering have been made obsolete, as the narrative captions are much easier to read in this issue.
