GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW | 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man by Matt Kindt (Dark Horse)

Lately, I've been tending to go for more standalone non-superhero graphic novels rather than superhero types.  Don't get me wrong I've been enjoying Green Lantern: Blackest Night and all the prelude to it.  However, I didn't enjoy large parts of the whole Final Crisis story lines and I don't like to review mid-series comics on Mad Hatter's because I don't think most people are interested in hearing about vol. X.  This is why I have stuck to reviewing standalones such as Thor: Ages of Thunder, which is out of continuity and The Mice Templar which is full of cool. 

Which brings me to Matt Kindt's 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man.   3 Story is the very lonely story of Craig Pressgang growing up with gigantism and how it affects his life and those around him.  Kindt's style of art is a bit austere, but it works well given the story and setting.  His text is also very sparse, but what little there is leaves a deep impact.  The packaging is well done with a die-cut hardcover.

3 Story is split into 3 sections from the points of view of the women in Craig's life with the first told from his mother, which  is surprisingly emotional given many pages have little to no text.  Craig's mother comes off lamentable, yet very cold especially once Craig leaves home for college.  The detachment of Craig is already present at a young age. 

The second story is told from Craig's love interest Jo.  This section gives you a good feeling on how living with someone so large can be hard on not just the giant.  Craig continues to become more and more remote with his affections and humanity.  One of the most interesting aspects is that as Craig grows his hearing and eye sight change with him.  Especially, when he has delayed responses to touch and pain as his pain receptors are further removed from his brain.  During this time we're also treated to Craig's involvement with the CIA as a supposed secret agent.  Keep in mind most of this section takes place during the cold war times of the 1950s and 60s.

The 3rd part tells of Craig's time out in the wilderness as he faces his imminent demise from the point of view of the daughter he never really knew.  This section is the shortest, which could have been longer, but that was my desire for more. The melancholy ending is more than fitting to this sad life story.

Overall, Craig is a very difficult character to understand, but Kindt gives you a view from the outside instead of the inside on what it could be like living with a giant.  Surprisingly moving, 3 Story is one of the better liteary graphic novels I've had the pleasure of reading.  I give 3 Story 9 out of 10 Hats.  Kindt is best known for Super Spy, which has been lauded by most as one of the best graphic novel in recent years that I'll now have to check out.  If 3 Story is any indication of Kindt's talent he'll be here for a long time.


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***Review copy courtesty of Dark Horse