Trinity of Sin #3 sees Pandora, the Question, and the Phantom Stranger subdued by the evil Nimraa and lost as to how to stop her. Immediately faced with the threat of the world being irreparably warped to Nimraa’s liking, the Trinity of Sin look inward for answers. The Question brings up the fact that Nimraa has left them alive, meaning they have some value to her.
The Trinity begin to analyze this, with the Phantom Stranger coming to the conclusion that Nimraa needs them alive until her spell is finished. Tormented by the actions he’s taken in life, the Phantom Stranger is quick to attempt self-sacrifice in the hopes that his death might prevent Nimraa’s curse. This plan is foiled by Nimraa, ever-prepared, and she ensnares the Trinity of Sin in their own worst nightmares.
Pandora, however, sees an out, and after rescuing her compatriots, she leads them on a quest to obtain the Redemption Box, a mirror of her own box that can help them defeat Nimraa. Their journey leads them across space and time before they discover that one of the Trinity of Sin has been Nimraa’s puppet the whole time.
THE POSITIVE
The pacing of Trinity of Sin has been one of the title’s weaker points in previous chapters. With issue three, J. M. DeMatteis appears to have found his groove, weaving a tale with a number of twists in a  small space. In addition, some of the characters are getting better defined by their actions. The swiftness with which the Phantom Stranger resorts to self-sacrifice demonstrates his self loathing in a way that dialogue never could.
Yvel Guichet’s art continues to be a strong point. There’s a good balance between the backgrounds and the actions of our characters, and the variety of environments rendered catches the eye. And the sight of the city warping in front of the protagonists’ eyes places nicely with perspective.
THE NEGATIVE
Unfortunately, Trinity of Sin #3 has some issues with synergy. The captions and artwork don’t always compliment each other; often times it feels like Pandora is describing to the reader what is visible on the page, revealing nothing new about the proceedings. Other times it feels like the artwork is crowded out by the boxes themselves. Most of the issue works, but the spots with incongruencies stand out.
THE VERDICT
Ultimately, the third issue of Trinity of Sin is stronger than its predecessors, having solved the pacing issues that troubled the series. J. M. DeMatteis has given the main characters some defining actions, and Yvel Guichet’s artwork dynamically contributes to the storytelling. The issue does end on a strong point, adding another layer for the series to build off of.
