Content warning: This review mentions a character having suicidal thoughts. If you or a Black queer loved one is having a mental health crisis, contact the BlackLine crisis call line.
The coven — Adri, Em and Michele — transported themselves to the Sacred Green, one of the many “God-Realms” on Earth. They might be able to find the key to combating the dark forces trying to eliminate all wytchkind in this realm, if they can survive the Sacred Green’s monstrous sentry and its master! Bytchcraft #3 is written by Aaron Reese, illustrated by Lema Carril, colored by Bex Glendining and lettered by Morgan Martinez.
They say nature is one of the best things you can use to ground yourself when you need to mentally regroup. As a result, this is what I expected the Sacred Green would be for the coven, and it was all that and then some for many reasons. One of the first reasons is that it is oozing with magic, starting with Meshipeshu, the guardian of the Sacred Green. It looks like a fusion of a giant cat and a dragon, both formidable and awesome. Of course, the coven cannot fight a guardian without one of their own. Michele summons a giant version of the dark rainbow unicorn the coven encountered in issue #1.
Lema Carril’s art and Bex Glendining’s colors are at their most vibrant and striking here. Imagine a giant dark rainbow unicorn facing off against a giant blue cat-dragon with purple, gold and blue lights flashing with each blow, and you have an idea of how stunning this fight looks. In addition, Morgan Martinez’s lettering enhances the battle with sound effects that are colorful and slick as well as the occasional rainbow text box. I appreciated the callback to the coven prophecy from the previous issue, which I believe we will see more of as the story progresses.
In addition to the giant cat-dragon and giant rainbow unicorn, another magical creature makes a delightful appearance that is Black, beautiful and regal. Given how Black queer folks often have to create the world they wish to see themselves in, I appreciate how beautiful Aaron Reese’s imagination is to make his own take on the Lady of the Lake.
While I won’t say what magical creature appears before the coven, the Lady of the Lake is both helpful and ominous to the coven for a few reasons. One is that they finally learn the true name of the threat the coven is facing. The other is that the coven is armed with new weapons for the fight ahead.
Before they meet the Lady of the Lake, the coven gets a moment to breathe and check in on themselves. It starts off lighthearted as Michele becomes one with the Sacred Green and fills the area with loving vibes, but takes a turn when Em mentions that their happiness isn’t constant because they occasionally get suicidal thoughts. Michele takes this omission personally and both she and Em have to go cool off. As a result, Adri has to become the voice of reason and explain that both he and Em’s magic takes a toll on them, but they never let Michele see it.
Not only is this conversation honest and heartfelt, but it is a vital conversation that more marginalized folks should be having. Given that Black queer suicidal people may end up involuntarily institutionalized, incarcerated or killed instead of receiving the actual help they need, this conversation among a Black queer coven is an example of how hard it is to talk about suicide and how it is still necessary to do so. The coven’s conversation is resolved with empathy, reassurance and love, which solidifies their bond before they meet the Lady of the Lake.
All in all, Bytchcraft #3 is a vibrant mix of fantasy and reality through the lens of Black queer joy and pain. The coven still has a hard road to walk before they can fully self-actualize, but I look forward to seeing where their story goes next.
Latonya "Penn" Pennington is a freelance contributor whose comics criticism can be found at Women Write About Comics, Comic Book Herald, Newsarama and Shelfdust, among others. Follow them @wordsfromapenn.com on Bluesky.
