Pandora, the Phantom Stranger, and the Question are reunited in Trinity of Sin #1. With three individual series now being folded into one, writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Yvel Guichet attempt to balance their stories by uniting them against a single enemy.
Trinity of Sin #1 opens up on a cosmic scale with a being named Nimraa explaining it’s existence. Indeed, much of Trinity of Sin #1 deals with characters trying to justify their place in the world. The Question, the Phantom Stranger, and Pandora all reflect on their previous trials and how to proceed. Fortunately, fate is prepared with an answer.
The issue sees all three characters face similar situations. Each member of the Trinity is going through what would seem to be an ordinary day before being attacked by a supernatural foe. The Phantom Stranger’s episode is probably the most supernatural, as he guides a soul to Heaven before being attacked. Pandora and the Question face far less; the former is enjoying a day on the beach, while the latter has taken the guise of a boarder preparing for the upcoming day. During her ordeal, Pandora feels a deep magic within her and ultimately summons the Phantom Stranger and the Question to her on the beach. All three characters are horrified at the prospect of working together, and the Question departs before Pandora can make her case. The issue ends with her and the Phantom Stranger seeking out the source of their attacker, Nimraa.
THE POSITIVE
Yvel Guichet handles the art duties for Trinity of Sin #1 and does a fantastic job. The design work for the supernatural attackers is elaborate, and the water being that attacks Pandora stands out in particular for the detailed linework. In addition, Guichet does a good job of emoting with the faceless Question, making the character seem just as human as his counterparts. Writer J. M. DeMatteis does a good job of balancing the book between the three leads, and gets inside each of their heads. If this is your first time reading the characters, you won’t be lost as to their motivations.
THE NEGATIVE
The primary flaw to Trinity of Sin #1 is that it takes a bit too long to develop. J. M. DeMatteis gives each of the three leads their due, but the triad of attacks plays out as a bit formulaic. In a debut issue, it’s difficult to buy into the stakes in such a short amount of space. The existential captions by the titular Trinity of Sin are often a more interesting read than the action on the page, and it’s hard not to wonder if the comic would have been better off doing one or the other rather than trying to do both.
THE VERDICT
Trinity of Sin #1 is by no means a bad book. It’s a fair debut that features three interesting leads and an enigmatic foe. J. M. DeMatteis’ writing already displays some intriguing existential themes for the series to delve into, and Yvel Guichet’s art shows that the series will be able to easily transition between contemplative and action-packed. And while Trinity of Sin #1 does a great job of balancing time between its leads, there’s a bit to be desired in terms of the equilibrium between comic book action and the plot.
