Volume 3 of the Scott Pilgrim Saga (sure, I can call it a saga, apparently now-a-days you can get away with calling just about anything a saga) brings the action and the awkward. This book revolves mainly around Scotts ex that he was depressed about for a year, Envy Adams, who happens to currently be dating Ramona's 3rd evil ex.
Todd (3rd ex) is a great character. He is vegan so he has psychic powers. The book doesn't even try to explain it, you just have to go with it. With Todd's ridiculously arrogant attitude it really works though. O'malley lampoons vegans so well you can't really tell if he loves or loathes them, which is parody at its best.
This book plays heavily with flash backs. They are neatly woven throughout the narrative. In book two we were treated to these scenes in large chunks for the most part. but in Volume 3 the come fast, maybe 2-3 pages of flashback then its back to the present. I found this to be a very nice way to keep the reader engaged.
Ramona is fleshed out a lot more in this book, she actually gets quite emotional. At one point she even pulls out a giant hammer (with +2 against girls) and goes toe to toe with Envy Adams. Alright, it was because Envy was getting on her nerves, but at least some portion of it was for the pain she caused Scott. It was just good to see that she does care for him, and that it's not just a one way obsession.
Knives Chao is now dating Young Neil, Steven Stills roommate. He genuinely cares for Chao but all she really wants at this point is to make scott jealous, though by the end of the book it seems as though that might have changed, if only a little.
One thing that became obvious after reading Volume 3 is that the film Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is going to have a very different timeline. I figured that would be the case, and I still have confidence that it will be awesome (after all, it couldn't be a 6 hour movie). It is going to be a film adaptation of the book, its basically Edgar Wright interpreting the comic (and O'Malley was there to help). Things take their time in the comic, for instance, Scott fights Todd 3 times over several days. I doubt Edgar would want to do everything as a montage so (according to the trailer) it seems as though its been compressed to one fight (in the trailer, when Todd does the awesome 'dust' line he says Scott will be dust because he's going to pulverize him in 2 seconds, whereas in the book its pulverize you tomorrow). So I expect things in the movie to move fast and furious, which will be awesome.
So Volume 3 ends on a bit of a good note with the 3rd evil ex down. Scott wanted a bit more closure with Envy, but he seems like he'll be able to make it along just fine. He remains ever-likable and flawed, but this issue also showed us how damaged he was/is. Ramona also remains quite a mystery. Several more clues are dropped in this book that there is a large possible devious backstory to her. Also, as a nice nod we're given a brief glimpse at who appears to be Gideon, the final ex. Book three had good energy, action, drama, and of course comedy, so with that we move onto Volume 4.
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