Comic Review: Die #2

Die #2

Image Comics

Writer: Kieron Gillen

Artist: Stephanie Hans

I was extremely high on Die #1. It was my first Masterpiece review garnering a coveted perfect score, something Sequential Planet rarely gives out. However, I felt it was well-deserved thanks to its fantastic storytelling and artwork. The score weighs heavy as the sophomore issue looms and I have to go into the next chapter knowing that it was most likely a unicorn and this issue will bring me back down to Earth. So does it?

The gang is all here! Ash, Chuck, Matt, Angela, Isabelle, and Sol. The first five have all been brought back into Die by Sol. Luckily, here Gillen gives us a narrator to help us learn about each character’s role in the game. Once we have a meet and greet it quickly turns into a battle, and we are thrust into the incredible world of Die. To fully understand what is happening in Die, you can’t forget that it was born in the mind of Sol, the Game Master, and created for tabletop play. This explains why characters from the real world appear in Die. Everything is quite genius and perfectly portrayed by Gillen. This issue gives us a taste of the world and hints at so much more to come. These characters are all familiar with this world and are sure to have enemies that they made when they navigated as teens. Now they are back as adults and still have to assume their roles they were given 30 years ago.

Kieron Gillen has brought us an amazing mix of nerd-fare, and anyone can join in on the fun. I will admit that I read this comic twice because the initial read left me with questions. That would have been troubling if the second read wasn’t so much fun AND cleared everything up. Remember, this was a tabletop fantasy RPG developed by Sol. This is what happens when D&D comes to life!

Stephanie Hans is the real deal. She is creating the world of Die and its inhabitants and offering a strong bid as Best Artist of 2019, but yes, it is early. Still, this artwork alone makes Die worthy of a read or two. I also really like her character designs of the main players. They are unique and I can see them in many other formats if Die was ever to be a successful TV series. There is no doubt she is still a half of the whole, and Gillen can’t get all the credit.

Die #2 is nipping at the heels of Die #1, and that is such a compliment to a successor of a 10/10 comic book. It is clear that the world of Die is only going to get bigger and better and everyone needs to hop on this ride. It has endless possibilities, and that is what is so exciting. The ideas are fresh and new; what more could readers ask for? Die #2 is another smash hit in a young, but powerful comic series. Stay tuned!