Before I say anything, I am going to warn you that this review will have spoilers from Issue #2. If you haven’t read that issue yet, please wait to read this review. At the end of issue #2 Dejah and her remaining party members were picked up by a ship that she thought was from helium. The ship was indeed from Helium, but the pilot was not.
Issue #3 picks up with her meeting someone you may recognize from issue #0, the same person she saved from her father’s prison. He promised her back then that he had knowledge of Ephysium. But, it was all just a ploy for his freedom. Or, was it? He explains to Dejah that they are now in Thurd. This is a home to castoffs, wounded warriors, and the civilization is being built on top of past civilizations.
Dejah, Kajas, and Sajad are the only members of her party that survived to this point. He is very curious about Kajas, but as soon as he realizes that she is a scientist he calms down a bit. He goes on to explain that the civilization they have built was only really home to white apes since the oceans dried up long ago. The battle that played out between his people and the white apes to take control of the land is what drew the attention of Dejah’s father. And that is how he ended up being captured.
He did not want to give away the fact that there was a whole city of people living in Thurd, so he went quietly. As Dejah and the green leader talk more he informs her that he does indeed know where Ephysium is. He promises her that he will reveal all the secrets of the lost civilization. There is, of course, a catch. She must beat him at a game of Jetan.
This won’t be a regular board game version that Dejah is used to. Instead, the game will be played in a real life arena. Both sides will play to the death. If Dejah fails Sajad, her last remaining warrior, will be killed. No pressure, right?
This is a safe place to end the synopsis. There are quite a few reasons why you should be reading this series. And, this issue specifically. First off, the interactions between the leader of Thurd and Dejah are always tense and entertaining. Secondly, the plot is coming together in a great way. Amy Chu is tying up loose ends and putting in plot points that foreshadow future events all over the place. And, last but not least, Dejah Thoris is fully thinking for herself.
Dejah isn’t letting anyone make decisions for her. She does take things her friends and even enemies say into consideration. She is evolving and learning with every encounter and interaction. Dejah Thoris is quite literally evolving from a princess into a bad ass before my very eyes. You’ll have to pick up this issue and read her match of Jetan to fully understand.
But, this is why I’m rating issue #3 of Dejah Thoris 8.5/10.
