The sweetest crime fighter in New York City has a new base. Granted, it hasn’t officially announced its presence yet and there IS some potential stress at the next major move for. Her company, but everything seems to be going so well for her in Sweety Candy Vigilante #3. Writer Suzanne Cafiero continues her time with Sweety as drawn to the page by artist Thiago Vale and colorist Antonio Fabela. Though bogged-down a bit by dialogue, the third issue of the second series continues to build on elements that have been established in a rather satisfying series thus far.

The authorities are a bit shocked to see lights suddenly coming-up on Death Island. The tiny island not far from Ryker’s has been abandoned for some time.  Evidently it’s been bought-out by a mysterious developer. Some of the mystery falls when the lights on a candy land-style castle reveal the existence of Sweety Candy Vigilante. Meanwhile, Sweety has made some powerful enemies...one of whom happens to be a very wealthy man who is dating a powerful figure in the local news media. Things are about to get kind of complicated for Sweety at a very crucial time for her. 

Cafiero builds the third chapter of the second story arc with sharp overall plot construction. There’s a respectable rhythm to the action, but there isn’t a whole lot of actual time spent with the title character. Cafiero is spending far too much time with the extended cast to allow the story to linger for too long on Sweety herself, which is a pity as she still seems like a bit of a mystery this far into her second series. This wouldn’t be all that bad if the rest of the cast didn’t make it to the page with such a dull appeal. 

Vale and Fabela continue to explore a lightly cartoony New York that feels like a cross between traditional dark superhero stuff and rejected Candyland illustrations. It’s a fun fusion that still holds some appeal of its own, but Cafiero isn’t directing the art in ways that capitalize on the potential for this sort of thing. Given the right momentum it COULD still become pleasantly weird. Vale and Fabela DO manage some gorgeous work with framing the drama and rendering atmosphere. There’s some very immersive detail in the rendering of Sweety herself. It’s just too bad that Cafiero isn’t giving her a whole lot of room on the page.

The plot seems to be running in a pretty predictable direction. The villain is plotting against Sweet as she makes the next move in her enterprise. There IS a kind of an appeal in the overall direction that things are moving in, but it’s not enough. Sweety and her entourage do a pretty good job of locking-in interest as the current series continues through its third chapter.  It’s been a lot of fun so far and there’s still a great deal of potential in the overall idea, but Cafiero seems to be weighing-down the page in too much dialogue to keep everything moving with the right amount of interest. 

Grade: C+