Comic Review: Section Zero #2

Section Zero #2

Image Comics

Writer: Karl Kesel

Artist: Tom Grummett

In a regrettable, monkey’s paw type scenario, I got exactly what I asked for with issue #2 of Section Zero. The book follows an eclectic team of supernatural investigators. But now the book is turning away from the supernatural and towards the mundane. Sam Wildman spends most of his time griping about his ex-wife to anyone who will listen and a few people who won’t. That’s especially a problem because his ex is none other than team member Doctor Challenger. Unfortunately this plotline not as compelling as I previously thought it would be.

Marriage woes aside, Section Zero’s main problem is its clumsy dialogue. That was prominent in the first issue but it’s even more prominent here. I assumed issue #1’s overly exposition based exchanges were just a part of the setting up the story as a whole. But in issue #2, it’s now apparent that this will probably be the standard for future issues. The characters will dryly state what’s happening and why, regardless of whether they’re shapeshifting teenagers, immortal secret agents, or even mythological creatures. This approach really kills the reader’s immersion and overall investment in the story.

The main storyline also isn’t doing Section Zero any favors. The setting feels more than a little cobbled together and lacks a real identity. It’s presently just an assortment of supernatural creatures, urban legends, and 90s superhero tropes. The tone is similarly indistinct and at times contradictory. There’s a good amount of wacky if not particularly amusing, humor which will run alongside darker elements. Most notable is a dark pact made by a village in the aftermath of the Bosnian War. This complex, disturbing plot hook feels too much like it was put in as an afterthought. Section Zero #2 also sets up a big-time travel mystery but I’m afraid it’s not very interesting. It’s difficult to enjoy Section Zero, mainly because it’s so hard to tell what the book is even supposed to be at this point.

Tom Grummet’s art thankfully looks much better in issue #2. It’s definitely the most dated aspect of the series but it benefits from a clear, consistent direction. Even then, I will say the character designs are pretty lacking. Sam Wildman looks like he clambered out of an 80s VHS cover and Thom’s bug form looks like an action figure. The enigmatic, largely detached Ghost Soldiers have similarly goofy outfits. The rest of the designs aren’t particularly bad but they’re not all that memorable. The casual attire Wildman and Challenger wear in a flashback works better than their regular appearances. Section Zero is still making its way through reprints of the series’ original run. Hopefully, future issues will be a little more appealing.