Casanova: Avaritia #2 was the best chapter of Matt Fraction's bizarre sci-fi saga to date, which automatically makes it one of the best things Fraction has written in general. That's a pretty high bar to to confront with a follow-up issue, particularly since the third issue has been absent for the better part of six months now. Avaritia #3 is definitely an enjoyable ride, but also a little more uneven than the previous two.
The problem is that Fraction toys with the chronology of his script a great deal in issue #3. It makes sense given the fact that the very fabric of the multiverse is crapping out at this point, but it makes for a story that is sometimes less readable than it should be. Casanova is generally a book that benefits from multiple readings, but here it becomes more of a necessity.
Luckily, the core emotional appeal of this mini-series is still fully apparent. Fraction is finding a lot of success with fleshing out Newman Xeno/Luther Desmond Diamond and building up his relationship to Cass. All the big players in this story are desperately seeking love in their own way, and they all intersect in bizarre and fascinating ways. The drama is ramped up, the tension is high, and the weirdness is in full swing.
Gabriel Ba is also in fine form with this issue. The imagery is getting progressively more surreal with each new chapter, and that says something coming off of an issue with samurai panda warriors. Cris Peter's colors also bring a lot to the table. Peter frequently shifts from full color to a more old-school Casanova, monotone approach to highlight certain panels. It's no surprise that Peter's work earned the series an Eisner nomination today, although it really deserved more than one.
Jesse has been a writer for IGN Comics since House of M was the big craze in the comic community. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.
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