As far as direct sequels go, Die: Loaded doesn’t do much with the original characters of 2018’s Die. Rather, what Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans do with their follow-up is explore how the events of the original comic affected the people close to the realm’s initial victims. Die: Loaded #3 not only explores the way trauma affects those closest to us but also takes the opportunity to expand the lore of the Jumanji-esque game.
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Sophie’s Journey to the 20th Side
In the previous issue, Sophie and Molly learned they needed to collect all of the players forcefully thrown into the world, and all agreed to go home. Despite this, the players are scattered across the various sides of Die. This issue follows Sophie as she ventures to the 20th side.
It’s here she encounters the embodiment of the game as a whole, who asks her: “What am I for?” It’s a question that lingers over the issue as a constant reminder of the pain the world has caused, and yet the catharsis it can bring.
The Dictator’s Grief: Solomon’s Mother
Sophie finds the next player, Solomon’s mother, Margaret. She arguably suffered the most from the events of the first series; Sol was trapped in Die for years on end, leaving a grieving mother with no answers.
Now, Margaret is using her newfound abilities as the Dictator to command the embodiment of Die to explode over and over again. Driven by rage, she is finally face-to-face with the true culprit for her son’s suffering. Despite this, the being can’t ever fully die, and Margaret seems trapped in an endless chain of revenge.
Navigating the Risks of a Sequel
Doing a sequel for a finished series always carries risk, especially when the original series had such a well-thought-out ending. Fortunately, Kieron Gillen clearly knew the risks when writing Die: Loaded, and issue #3 shows perfectly that this world has much more to say.
The focus on Margaret’s grief was masterfully executed. Her dialogue lingers with exhaustion and delirium: the pain of a mother who was robbed of twenty-five years of her son’s life. The anger towards the other victims who couldn’t understand her grief, and the weight of finally having answers, crashes down on an elderly woman who now has true power at the tip of her tongue.
While Sophie makes for a less compelling POV character compared to Ash, her groundedness and determination are necessary for the group of broken people she’s been collecting.
The “Fetch-Quest” Pacing Problem
The biggest fault of Die: Loaded is its structure. It almost feels like the past couple of issues have been the part in a heist movie where they’re “assembling the crew.” Sophie has been having largely one-on-one interactions as she travels to bring everyone together.
While this gives each character a spotlight, the fetch-quest nature of the narrative is already weighing a bit heavy. It’s especially jarring because Sophie is doing this alone, making the lack of group dynamics noticeable.
We get tantalizing glimpses of what’s to come, such as when Margaret uses her powers on Molly, and we learn Margaret used to be Molly’s teacher. It’s an interesting dynamic that Gillen is sure to touch on, but for now, it leaves me eagerly awaiting the issues where the cast is fully assembled.
Stephanie Hans and Clayton Cowles: Visual Powerhouses
On the art side, Stephanie Hans is a complete powerhouse. Her depiction of facial expressions is core to Die as a series. The emotional intricacies of these broken characters would not be possible without her distinctive touch. Hans also handles colors, emphasizing the dour atmosphere without ever feeling dull or muted. Each panel truly feels like its own full painting that could be hung in a gallery.
Clayton Cowles is also truly set loose in this series. In issue #3, his lettering pops in the way he distinguishes between different beings. The gods Sophie speaks to have unique bubble styles that differ from the being representing Die, which in turn differ from Isabella’s consciousness. This is imperative not just for clarity, but for establishing the tone of each character.
Verdict: A Strong Expansion of the Die Universe
Die: Loaded #3 truly shows off the strengths of this world. This universe is far more expansive than just a single series; it lends itself to the exploration of many characters. In that way, it really embodies its TTRPG roots, embracing a party of diverse individuals and proving that this world is more of a format than a singular narrative.
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‘Die: Loaded #3 | Is a Masterclass in Grief and Lore Expansion
Die: Loaded #3 truly shows off the strengths of this world. This universe is far more expansive than just a single series; it lends itself to the exploration of many characters. In that way, it really embodies its TTRPG roots, embracing a party of diverse individuals and proving that this world is more of a format than a singular narrative.
