In our review of Dead Teenagers #3, we learn a bit more about Morgan, and Brandy throws an ill-advised party.
Dead Teenagers #3
Writer: Jude Ellison S. Doyle
Artist: Caitlin Yarsky
Main Cover: Naomi Franquiz
Variant Covers: Keyla Valerio, Caitlin Yarsky, Naomi Franquiz
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: April 15, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Another scenario from the late 90s, this time involving a hall-monitoring robot gone homicidally rogue. We’re following a young Morgan this time, as he hides out. And ends up being killed via Hallbot’s self-destruction.
Later on, post-transition Morgan is seen giving a life-affirming lecture to a group of students. Which turns out to be part of a show or movie she’d been part of, and JT’s watching it. JT’s also curious as to what she’s been up to all this time.
Brandy, meanwhile, has been having way too much fun with credit cards and a trampoline on a rooftop. They know that Ryder’s dead by now, but Brandy’s not overly upset. Thanks to the time loops, she sees it all as being like a video game.
JT goes through some of Ryder’s things, while Brandy elects to throw a party at Claire’s place, saying she can finally be the popular girl she never got to be back in the day. But JT points out that this is probably not a great idea.
During the party, Claire chats with an old flame, as Brandy talks with a mysterious hooded figure that reads her palm…then introduces it to a knife. Yes, the Reaper-looking figure has come for them, and takes a couple of partygoers out in the process. They try to attack Claire, but she takes matters into her own hands, jumping from a ledge (and into the pool).
I’d anticipated them learning about Ryder’s death at some point. What I hadn’t expected was that they’d found out between issues 2 and 3. And while it may feel a little callous that the group, particularly Brandy, doesn’t seem overly broken up about it, the reasoning does make sense, considering the circumstances.
These are characters that have experienced their own deaths tens of thousands of times, and they’ve found themselves in a situation where they actually got to grow up for once. So their relationship with mortality’s got to be a bit different than your average person, and I think the writers nailed that, here.
The past death scenarios introduced in this one continue to be darkly hilarious, between the Hallbot fiasco and the square dance instructor looking to blow up the gym if anyone rocks out over a certain decibel level. Not only are both of these proof that someone had some fun coming up with this stuff, but they also work as excellent showcases for Claire and Ryder.
In the Hallbot scenario, it could probably be argued that Morgan died because (s)he was in hiding at the time. By the point of death in that one, Hallbot had stopped actively hunting students, being successfully shamed into it by one girl who tearfully breaks off their relationship. But it then goes into self-destruct mode, and Morgan’s hiding place? Right in the line of fire.
In the “Fatal Hoedown” one, Ryder (usually the one that dies to save people) brings out the electric guitar in pure defiance of the demented square dance instructor. Also, as someone who remembers the square dance unit in gym class with precisely zero fondness, this method of death especially made me laugh. That arrogant teenage swagger may have gotten people killed, but it does feel fitting.
I do wonder, though, if the hooded figure is someone that would have been part of Brandy’s massive invite spree or if they’d tracked them down and crashed of their own accord. JT had warned that it could happen, but would they have shown up even with a small group?
JT’s scenes in this one make me think that she may be starting to piece things together. Brandy’s video game comment gets her thinking. I look forward to seeing where issue four goes in regards to that.
Art-wise, I’m digging a lot of the facial expressions, especially after it’s pointed out by the killer that Brandy can be an exhausting person to be around. Some of JT and Claire’s expressions reflect that, whereas Brandy just exudes the joy of living a life she never thought she’d get to.
Final Thoughts
In its third installment, Dead Teenagers continues to be smart, funny, and a worthwhile read.
