Wow. I am blown away by the violent nature of WE3 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. It’s not that I’m shocked by the excessive use of weapons, blood and death. Our entertainment industry has already numbed me with murder in movies and television and with shoot ‘em up action in video games. Instead, I try to be conscious of how that violence supports the overall story. I’m actually one of the few people who hates Pulp Fiction, primarily because the brutal behavior seems gratuitous and a trendy gimmick. On the other hand, I love the much bloodier Reservoir Dogs, since the carnage plays an integral part of the plot. That must explain why I am enthralled by WE3 and its savage images of aggression.
Although many pages in the story intrigue me, I am most drawn to page 93 when Roseanne sacrifices herself to save Bandit. Even with only six panels, the action reaches a pivotal point in the tale. With the rain mirroring her tears, she lures 1 into a trap. When Roseanne provides 1 with his former name Bandit, she essentially releases him from his military applications and frees him to find a new home. Chasing him away, she jumps into the line of fire. Her final penance gives Bandit a chance at a new life. From that point on, he knows that the armored suit is not his true self. By shedding those trappings, he is able to finally find a home.
Her shooting is the only time that we see a fully-explored human character die. Up to that point, the WE3 animals instinctively kill faceless people in self-defense. It’s not until 1 pulls the dead man from the accidental train crash that we first witness clear mortality from 1. However, Roseanne’s death highlights the focal message of the story, the evidence of humanity.
I also notice a few interesting drawing choices on this page. The second panel shows Roseanne’s hand across her mouth. When I first saw this picture, I thought that she was being silenced by another person standing behind her. The hand simply looks too large for her body. Although it is hers, it could easily symbolize the control of the government forcing her into the entrapment of 1. The next image is the three soldiers aiming guns at the dog. The darkness and non-descriptiveness of their bodies are a stark contrast to the warm colors used on Roseanne and 1. The shadowy figures reflect the shady dealings by the government.
I’m not a very religious person, but I find possible holy imagery in the fourth panel. The three beams from the sharpshooters’ rifles form a triangle on 1 that reminds me of the “third eye” belief in Hindu culture, especially with his eyes closed. This aspect could represent the enlightenment 1 receives as he becomes Bandit, his true self. The three dots could also signify the Hindu Trinity, or even the Christian Holy Trinity, which might be further supported by the WE3 title. Both 3 (earlier) and Roseanne (on this page) sacrifice themselves to save the other two animals. Roseanne’s sacrifice shows 1 (and by extension, 2) their true nature and apologizes for her sins. Her death sets the creatures on a new path to find a home. Sounds a little like Jesus, even to me. Could religion actually play a central role in this story?
