Alright, I’m late again. But since Massive Publishing doesn’t sell their comics digitally, and I don’t have any comic-book stores near me, I have to order my dead-tree copies online & wait for them to arrive in the mail. Well, I just got my grubby little paws on the latest issue today, and at least I can say that, once again, it’s worth the wait!

About a couple of months have passed since the events of issue #2. It’s winter now, and Agent Malek is in Sweden on what he describes as a short holiday. His holiday is interrupted by the arrival of the new Director of Father Division, a woman named Amanda Cho, who promptly orders him to return to North Valley to retrieve the Grimoire and close this case ASAP. She also wants him to keep a leash on Maisie, Malek’s associate who has gone undercover as a student at the Hawthorne Academy. Maisie’s exact role in the agency is unclear, she’s referred to as an “asset”, a potentially dangerous one at that. But it remains to be seen how deep her connection to Malek is, as we know she’s close enough to be aware that Malek killed Director King, something Cho and the rest of the agency appear to remain unaware of.

As for Calista, she’s been studying the Grimoire, reading Jackson’s notes, and practicing the various spells he wrote. And when she thinks she’s finally cracked the codes within, she rushes to Kaz’s house. Except he’s not alone, he’s hanging out with Maisie, who now that she’s confirmed that Calista does indeed possesses the Grimoire, drops all pretense and shows us why she’s so  dangerous. And thus the issue ends on a combative cliffhanger that promises a spellbinding showdown between the two young women that one of them may not survive.

Blake Northcott continues to prove herself to be an expert at dialog and pacing of scenes. We’re caught up on Calista’s activities thanks to a session she has with a psychiatrist which serves as a perfect narration for that we’re shown in flashbacks. This includes a really dramatic sequence from when Calista last saw her mother, who is in prison for aiding a known terrorist (who happens to be Father Division’s watchlist, as we learn later in the issue). Calisita naturally believes in her mother’s innocence but breaks down when she sees how her mother is coping in confinement (hint: not well).

Another standout sequence in this issue is where we see Ibrahim Briggs, the ex-agent from Father Division whom Malek met with in the previous issue. Briggs gets attacked by a new mysterious figure who utilizes magic in some truly inventive ways, to get the information he wants from him.

All of this action continues to be incredibly illustrated by penciler and colorist Giuseppe Cafaro and Bryan Valenza, helping to make The North Valley Grimoire a must-read miniseries. Chacebook rating: FIVE STARS

AVAILABLE IN COMIC SHOPS EVERYWHERE, AND VIA MASSIVEPUBLISHING.COM