Lucifer Lays Out His Grand Design In Pestilence: A Story Of Satan #3

It’s the late 14th Century, and a Great Pestilence —the “Black Death”— is sweeping across Europe, killing over 100 million people. BUT, what if history as we know it was a lie? What if, in reality, this was no straightforward plague, but the FIRST non-recorded Zombie Infestation of man? Ex-Crusader Roderick Helms and his fellow “black ops” agents the Church, Fiat Lux, must seek out the cause of this undead outbreak and vanquish it before mankind ceases to exist!
Knights, zombies, demons, corruption, death, betrayal and Satan…the Seven Deadly Ingredients involved in the making of this issue of Pestilence! Another can’t-miss issue!

The first arc of Pestilence delivered a terrifying revisionist look at the bubonic plague. In Frank Tieri’s version of events, the Black Death wasn’t actually caused by rats carrying infected fleas. It was actually a massive zombie infestation that was covered up by the Church of Rome. That flea thing was a clever lie to hide the Vatican’s foreknowledge and inaction. As terrifying as all that sounds, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. In the first two chapters of this second arc, we learn that the initial wave of infestation was just setting the table for Abbadon’s plans to conquer Earth.
Heading into Pestilence: A Story of Satan #3, Roderick realizes he needs more than a couple skilled swordsmen by his side if he’s going to prevail against the Beast. Remembering the power of the holy relics stored beneath Westminster Abbey, Roderick and co. stage an attack on the church to retrieve some of the remnants. Of course, Beelzebub probably has the jump on them. This sort of thing is right up his alley.
As far as I can tell, this is a complete alternate timeline for 14th century Europe. I don’t think those pontiffs quite line up historically, and that’s fine. It’s slightly less blasphemous than having popes Clement VI and Innocent VI willingly participating in Appolyon’s design.
Oleg Okunev delivers some truly disturbing visuals throughout the series. I’m not super keen on floating, narrating heads, but they don’t distract too much from the story. There’s plenty of twisted, visceral zombie slaying action to reel the reader back in.
Pestilence: A Story of Satan #3 is the turn in this arc. We have a clear picture of who all the players are and where their allegiances lie. The traps are set. In a series that’s been so fast-paced and brutal, it seems odd to say business is about to pick up, but here we are. It’s gonna be a slobberknocker.
Pestilence #3, published by AfterShock Comics, released 25 July 2018. Written by Frank Tieri, art by Oleg Okunev, story by Mark Englert, Brandon Auman, and Frank Tieri, color by Rob Schwager and Mark Englert, letters by Marshall Dillon, logo by John J. Hill, cover by Tim Bradstreet.