Reviews - Honor and Curse: Eternal #3, Exploit #3, and 51 #3
From Mad Cave Studios
Three reviewed comics from Mad Cave Studios this week with Honor and Curse: Eternal #3, Exploit #3 and 51 #3.
Honor and Curse: Eternal #3
As Genshi Sakagura tracks the shadowy Order of Nine to a Long Island mansion, a brutal raid turns into a superpowered standoff when the assassin Velveteen crashes the party, killing his only lead and igniting a new war.
With ancient conspiracies, fallen monarchists, and the Tengu’s power rising, Honor & Curse: Eternal #3 forges a deadly alliance built on blood, secrets and the promise of betrayal.
Author: Mark London
Artist: Jaime Infante
Mad Cave Studios’ Honor and Curse: Eternal #3 continues to build on the strong foundations laid by the previous issues, taking the revelations we’ve already had and pushing the story into a far more action-heavy and suspenseful direction. This issue feels like the point where the larger conspiracy surrounding the worlds and Genshi’s struggles begins to open up further, and the infiltration at the heart of the story creates a constant sense of tension and momentum throughout.
What I enjoyed most was how the issue balances its action with intrigue. The deeper Genshi gets into uncovering what is really happening, the more layered the story becomes. There is a particularly interesting meeting during the issue that considerably broadens the scope of the series. It apparently connects to other titles and characters within the wider universe, but the story handles it smartly enough that readers unfamiliar with those books never feel lost. Instead, it works as an added layer of mystery and world-building, teasing bigger events and hidden forces without distracting from the main narrative.
The character interactions are also very well done here. Genshi has always been a compelling protagonist, but this issue puts him into situations where he feels genuinely challenged. His confrontation with the assassin is especially entertaining because this is not a one-sided battle. Under ordinary circumstances, the two seem incredibly evenly matched, which adds considerable unpredictability and excitement to their encounters. You get the sense that Genshi cannot rely purely on skill or strength this time, making the stakes feel much higher.
The visual storytelling is another major highlight. The panel layouts are excellent throughout the issue, guiding the eye smoothly through both the quieter moments and the bursts of combat. The action sequences have a sharp energy, while the more suspenseful scenes make great use of pacing and atmosphere. The colouring deserves particular praise as well. Small details, such as the blood-red footprints trailing through the citadel, add so much mood and visual impact to the story. Those touches give the issue an almost haunting quality at times and help reinforce the darker tone surrounding the mystery.
What makes this issue work so well overall is that it feels like genuine progression for the story while still delivering a thoroughly entertaining standalone chapter. It advances the larger narrative, deepens the intrigue around Genshi and the forces working behind the scenes, and provides plenty of exciting action along the way. By the end, it feels like the path ahead is becoming clearer, but there are still enough unanswered questions to keep the suspense high for what comes next.
Get Honor and Curse: Eternal #3 at Forbidden Planet:
Exploit #3
Did you know that during the Cold War, a sabotaged Soviet oil pipeline blew up, and the detonation was so large you could see it from space? That’s what people say.
Regardless, a new challenger approaches as the next Datum CEO claims the throne and immediately uses it to transform fear into delicious oppression.
PLUS: The Origin Story of Mr. Ipsum, an infamous ‘80s hacker who had root on the city power grid while your parents were learning to program a VCR.
Tune in on the appropriate Wednesday for death memes, go bags, and the coldest war stories this side of Siberia. The largest non-nuclear explosion ever. That’s what they say.
Authors: Tim Leong, and Laura Hudson
Artist: Emiliana Pinna
Mad Cave Studios’ Exploit #3 brilliantly continues the series' momentum, delivering another highly entertaining chapter that blends technology, mystery, and social commentary in a way that feels both timely and believable. One of the strongest elements of the series so far has been how grounded it feels despite the larger conspiracy and thriller elements, and this issue really leans into that with its clever real-world nods and recognisable references to online culture.
The characters are becoming increasingly engaging as the story progresses. Each issue seems to peel back another layer, giving us a better understanding of the people already established while also introducing newer faces who quickly feel important to the bigger picture. There is a nice balance between developing personalities and keeping the pace moving, which helps the story remain accessible even as the plot becomes more complex. You can feel the tensions, agendas, and motivations building underneath the surface, and that adds a lot to the intrigue.
I also really enjoyed the way the comic uses different forms of media and communication as part of the storytelling. The inclusion of online posts, digital conversations, and varying media formats helps the book feel modern and authentic. It also highlights how easily information spreads and how quickly people accept things as truth simply because they saw them online. The reactions to rumours, manipulation, and misinformation are portrayed very convincingly, making the story feel uncomfortably close to reality at times.
The hacker elements are another major highlight. There is a fun contrast between the modern-day cyber side of things and references to older styles of hacking and tech culture that long-time readers or anyone familiar with earlier internet eras will appreciate. That mix of old-school and contemporary approaches gives the series personality and makes it stand out from more generic tech thrillers. It feels like the creators genuinely understand the culture they are writing about rather than simply using hacking as a backdrop.
Visually, the issue continues to impress. The panel layouts and framing are excellent throughout, helping to create tension and control the pacing of scenes extremely well. Certain pages have a cinematic quality, especially during moments of discovery or confrontation, and the visual flow keeps the reader fully engaged from start to finish.
What really keeps me invested, though, is the growing sense of mystery surrounding everything. Each revelation answers one question while raising several more, and there is a constant feeling that much bigger events are looming in the background. By the end of the issue, the story begins steering towards what looks like a large-scale revenge plot, and it is exactly the kind of escalation I was hoping for. The stakes are growing naturally, the intrigue is deepening, and I am completely on board to see where this all leads next.
Get Exploit #3 at Forbidden Planet:
51 #3
Viva Las Vegas! When a giant Mecha gets loose on the sunset strip Harvey and Jarrod are dispatched to deal with it and put the genie back in the bottle!
But the backstory of how it got loose is more tragic than anyone imagined.
Author: Curt Pires
Artist: JOK
Mad Cave Studios’ 51 #3 delivers exactly the kind of escalation the previous issue hinted at, and it does so in a hugely entertaining fashion. One thing this series has consistently done well is tease major developments before fully unleashing them, and here we finally get the payoff with the arrival of the giant mecha and an explanation of why it has emerged and how everything has spiralled to this point.
The comic leans heavily into its love of classic mech and sci-fi stories, and the Transformer-inspired nods throughout the issue are incredibly enjoyable without ever feeling overdone. From the design and movement of the machine to its mission and overall presence, there is a clear affection for that style of storytelling, which adds a lot of fun and energy to the book. It captures that larger-than-life feeling perfectly while still keeping the story grounded in the chaos of the Area 51 situation.
What surprised me most, though, was how well the emotional side of the story was handled alongside all the action. The backstory surrounding the human at the centre of the mecha conflict is genuinely engaging, giving us a much clearer understanding of the circumstances that led him into this predicament. His motivations feel believable, and you can understand why he makes the choices he does, even if those choices are far from ideal. There is a humorous solution to the immediate crisis that fits the series' tone perfectly, but at the same time, a lingering feeling that this quick fix could create even bigger problems down the line.
Of course, the issue also delivers on the mech action itself. Once the suit is fully unleashed, the story becomes wonderfully chaotic as the Area 51 team scrambles to contain the situation and get the machine under control. The action scenes are packed with movement and destruction, but they never lose sight of the characters, which helps keep the stakes engaging rather than turning into spectacle for spectacle’s sake.
The issue also does a great job of advancing the broader story. Just when things seem to settle after the main conflict, the post-adventure twist arrives and opens the door to even bigger consequences now that the secrets of Area 51 are beginning to spill out into the world. That final development adds another layer of intrigue and makes it clear that the fallout from these events is only just beginning.
Visually, the book is excellent throughout. The artwork captures both the scale of the mech action and the smaller emotional moments equally well, balancing comedy, destruction, and heartfelt storytelling in a way that feels natural. The action-packed pages are full of energy, while the character-focused scenes still manage to carry emotional weight.
Overall, this issue is a fantastic blend of humour, heart, sci-fi chaos, and explosive action. It embraces the fun of giant mech storytelling while still delivering strong character work and meaningful progression for the series, making it another standout instalment in what remains a thoroughly entertaining comic.
