The Fix #3

by Kalem Lalonde on June 08, 2016

Writer: Nick Spencer 
Artist: Steve Lieber 

Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber have established themselves as one of the best working creative partners with their brilliant Superior Foes of Spider-Man. It came as no surprise that The Fix jumped to my list of top titles after only reading the first issues. Lieber and Spencer’s joint sense of humour is at its best in this series, which has impressively maintained its quality through its first three issues. With issue #3, The Fix takes a dark and complex turn as it deals with child-celebrities and the struggles of their lives. The Fix #3 is an issue that found a perfect balance of laughs, shocks, and genuine sadness, continuing a streak of excellence for Steve Lieber and Nick Spencer.

Nick Spencer comics can be a little wordy at times but The Fix has been avoiding that problem so far. The way Spencer inserts humour into this book makes it wildly entertaining and light. It never feels like the dialogue is overdone or too long because the humour is inserted at just the right moments before things could risk getting a little dull. This is Spencer at his best because he has subdued what his makes some of his comics good rather than great. The dialogue or narration do not feel like they are dragging the story down or making things too complicated, they simply flow with the art and story.

This issue deals with very dramatic elements that never drown the comic in darkness because Lieber and Spencer are capable of maintaining their comedic tone. Dealing with the tragic story of a child-celebrity could have ended up making this issue too dark to fit into the ongoing sense of fun in this series but Spencer makes it work. The Fix is consistently dealing with the idea of corruption and this story complemented that theme very well. We’re given the story of a girl who was corrupted by fame and had no way of preventing it. When thought upon, it’s a very tragic story but it tonally and thematically fits into this book so well. That is the secret key of The Fix #3’s success and Spencer knocked it out of the park.

Steve Lieber is the secret weapon of this book. Without Lieber this comic probably would not be nearly as special as it has become. With previous collaborations in their history, Lieber and Spencer have found a flawless way to merge words with images. Like a director mainly sets the tone of a film, the artist has the same job in comics and Lieber draws a hilarious comic. He has the artistic equivalent of perfect comedic timing and it is the reason The Fix is able to be as fun and hysterical as it is. Lieber may be doing the best work of his career in The Fix and it’s something all comic fans should see.

The Fix #3 is another wonderful issue in one of the best comics of 2016. Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber expertly merge comedy with drama in an issue that will engage any reader. The electric tone of the book is maintained through the tragic story of a child celebrity due to Lieber mood and Spencer’s fantastic jokes. If you are a fan of laughing, this is a comic for you. There is not a comic out there that will make you burst out laughing as much as The Fix, I guarantee it. 
 

Our Score:

10/10

A Look Inside