In our review of Rafael Garcia: Henchman #3, Rafael and Kyle encounter a familiar face on the job. But wait a minute, did he switch sides?
RAFAEL GARCIA: HENCHMAN #3
Writers: Peter Murrieta, David Schrader
Artist: Ben Herrera
Main Cover: Gustaffo Vargas
Variant Covers: Jules Rivera
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: May 20, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Picking up at the seminar, Rafael Garcia: Henchman #3 begins Rafael is used as an example of filing away the past, and that just because a plan doesn’t work out, it doesn’t make it a bad plan.
On the next mission, Rafael and Kyle talk about the meeting, and about Pamela’s marital status. The plan is to get to a jump point and use the new glide suits. Kyle tells Rafael that Lita’s one of those things that can stay in the past, but Raf is trying to become the kind of guy she’ll want in the future.
And that’s when their plane is encountered by Real Patriot and the Justice Battalion. As it turns out, their glide suits were purchased by a company Real Patriot owns, and so he was able to track them that way.
The Battalion prepares to shoot, but one of them tells them to hold their fire. Unfortunately, one of Maverick’s guys goes for a gun, and so they open fire. Of them, Rafael and Kyle are two of (if not the only two) Maverick henchmen still standing.
The guy that’d told his teammates to wait removes his helmet to reveal Danny/Tony. He’d missed the rush of all this, and while the dress code’s a bit more strict, the benefits are much better.
When their chat eventually ends, the plane’s just over the jump point, as Rafael and Kyle hop out and let the glide suits kick in.
The further along this story goes, the more I’ll be very shocked if Rafael doesn’t switch to the side of good. It does feel like there are all these huge, blinking neon signs pointing him to a Heel-Face Turn. There’re allusions to it in the meeting, with the mention of being open to new ideas. In-context, it was related more toward what the gas was supposed to do, but given stuff in the prior two issues, it feels like a reference.
The best aspect of the “wait, is this the right side?” question, though, is definitely when Real Patriot’s dudes board the plane. Rafael pulls out a twist on a classic villain trope, the “We’re not so different, you and I” thing. But the way he does it isn’t the smooth, trying-to-convince-the-enemy-to-join-him sort of delivery. No, there’s some fear in there as he hopes to avoid being Henchman Casualty #202. It’s more of a plea to consider that these guys are also henchman, just working for someone different.
It doesn’t necessarily get them to stand down…but the question does stick with them after the fact, as they try to rationalize that they can’t be the bad guys if they’re going around in patriotic garb!
Though really, I think that of all the jobs brought up here in Rafael Garcia: Henchman #3: henching for Maverick, where a base and benefits would be an upgrade, working for Real Patriot, where there’s healthcare and a base but strict grooming standards, and running a dispensary…I think Lita may be the winner in this regard. Yes, that’d have its own level of stress to it, and getting shot is still a risk, but it still feels slightly less insane than either of the other jobs.
On the one hand, it was a little sad to see Scott get killed…but he did go out doing what he was best at: brown-nosing up a storm. In addition to his sycophancy toward Rafael—his boss, so, it’s understandable—he also takes a moment to remark on Real Patriot’s appearance. His last words on this earth? Telling Rafael he only blames himself.
One of those things that’s always good to see with comedy: commitment to the bit, and the writers succeeded at that with Scott, here.
Danny’s return was a very fun twist to throw in here. Not only does that come right back to the question of Rafael (and possibly Kyle) switching sides, since those ideas started coming up with his introduction in issue one, but that switch in sides doesn’t really change how they interact with him. It gives that relationship an interesting dynamic.
The artwork, still, feels fitting for the overall tone of this story: not too heavy, expressive, and fun. I think one aspect that’s kind of neat about this one is a double-sided centerfold in the middle (I assume that’s where it is in the print version, anyway), with Real Patriot doing his best Uncle Sam pose on one side, and a tongue-in-cheek card to join The Justice Battalion Lil’ Battlers Band Of Order on one side, and Rafael posing on a beach on the other. That’s just a very entertaining addition that also helps illustrate the contrast between both of these characters.
Plus, Real Patriot’s design, him being this universe’s Captain America stand-in, is kind of perfect for who he is. Conventionally handsome blond guy decked out in red white and blue, with a gun/eagle hybrid for a logo.
Final Thoughts
Old friends reunite this time around, in the penultimate installment of Rafael Garcia: Henchman. The fun tone’s still here, with an extra dose of satire. I look forward to seeing how it wraps up.
