Midnighter and Apollo #3 Review

Highway to Hell

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Fernando Blanco, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Josh Reed
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 7, 2016

While I seemed to be one of the few people who weren't totally won over by the DC You's Midnighter book, I have been enjoying this six issue mini.  I like Midnighter as a character and actually love Apollo.  Now that Apollo is stuck in Hell, I am right there with Midnighter as he tries to get his man back to the land of the living.  Steve Orlando is doing a good job in creating tension while also introducing some pretty cool characters along the way.  Plus, he's kept the over-the-top action dialogue to a minimum and that's a really good thing.  So, do the good times continue as Midnighter gets one step closer to Hell and thus Apollo? Let's find out...


The issue opens with Midnighter getting instructions on what and how will get him to Hell. Gregorio explains that once the game is on, Midnighter will have seven minutes to do what he has to do before dying a fiery death.  Of course, Midnighter is going to do what it takes to save Apollo, but seven minutes?  

Meanwhile in Hell, Neron gives Apollo a lesson in...himself and then offers to play a game. Now, if it was Monopoly it would be my personal Hell, but it's called Mansion of Happiness and it's set up to weigh Apollo's sins.  The game surely seems rigged, but even as Neron tries to bring Apollo down, he shines bright.

Back with Midnighter, we are told for the millionth time he has a fight computer for a brain, but what he's up to doesn't need many computations.  He asks some fist questions to a demon named Vodyanar and when he doesn't like the answers, he puts that fist right through his face.  It all leads to an odd flood and Midnighter being very happy.  Is it just me or does everyone get a little creeped out when Midnighter smiles?

After an emotional scene in Al's Masse (By the way, Midnighter has a fight computer for a brain...I'm not sure you knew), Midnighter is off to Hell where Neron decides to take his board game and go home.  You see, nobody ever wins the Mansion of Happiness and now I see why.

While that is going on, Midnighter is making himself feel right at home in Hell as he tries to find the Ace of Winchesters and Apollo's ticket home.  Unfortunately, while he finally does find the gun, it's not looking the part and the issue ends with the promise of a pretty cool battle next month.

Despite the fact that Steve Orlando seems to be trying way too hard to be mysterious and confusing, I enjoyed this issue enough.  Sure, it really boils down to Midnighter going somewhere, kicking ass and then moving on to the next place so he can rinse and repeat, but I am behind him in his quest.  I guess that's the charm of this mini series...I want him to save Apollo and live happily ever after so I am willing to overlook some of the stories flaws to get there.  By the way, Midnighter has a fight computer for a brain!

I did really like Fernando Blanco's art in this book and really think the art is improving with each issue.  It's gruesome and nasty at times (which fits perfectly), but Blanco also gives us some really good character models around the blood and guts.

Bits and Pieces:

While I was wary about this mini series going in, I am enjoying Midnighter's quest to get his love out of the pits of Hell.  When Steve Orlando isn't trying to get too fancy, he's giving us a hell of a story (sorry!) and Fernando Blanco's art is top notch.  I am glad to admit that this story has been a pleasant surprise.

7.5/10