Cuckoos Three is a slightly more sophisticated Heartstopper-like story. This is due to the fact we deal with the mental health of the characters earlier on and the artwork is physically darker in colors, but by no stretch too “dark” or “dismal” as the use of color is well done as well. Also, the character Jacob is more edgy (piercings, more openly artistic). There were a few times when I thought I was reading about Nick and Charlie and several times Murry and Jacob even look like their counterparts (Murry with his football/farm boy physical aspects and Jacob’s Asian features. Though Murry is a person of color compared to Nick who is Caucasian). Thankfully, though it is not a word-for-word situation (the biggest difference is Murray accepts his attraction to Jacob more quickly than Nick did with Charlie).
The extras at the end are fun and the explanations of D.I.D. are tastefully done. The Halloween story is FANTASTIC (I adore the references to a scary movie and a popular not-so-scary one). Though of course, there are triggers: The mental health scenes and the fight near the end are the two big ones, while characters being drunk/drinking is a secondary major one. The commentary of the abuse Jacob faced is mild, but can be upsetting..
This graphic novel has potential to be a series, but I almost hope Cassandra Jean (author/illustrator) and Mosskat (illustrator) do not. I like this “one of” story of two teens/young men trying to find themselves when the two meet at the end of their senior year. I have pictured them already living happily ever after, even though they are only around 18-to-20-years-old. I want them to be high school sweethearts riding off in the sunset forever!
Read as an online reader copy, and is due mid-August 2023. Also, I picked only one image to post as they are all fun. I also recommend reading the author bios as something I noticed in the actual story is mentioned.