Comic Review: Strange Adventures #2

Strange Adventures #2

DC Comics

Writer: Tom King

Artists: Mitch Gerads and Evan “Doc” Shaner

Strange Adventures #1 gave the series a strong start.  It came out so long ago, however, that I was concerned the second issue might cause confusion, and t

‘;herefore lose the strong grip it had on me. However, this issue isn’t confusing in any way that’s unintentional and actually manages to outdo the first. Strange Adventures #2 is a thoughtful issue with expert execution.

This issue largely focuses on Mister Terrific and the process behind making his decision regarding Adam’s investigation. That, and the rigorous physical routine he puts himself through to keep his mind stimulated. King and Gerads do a marvelous job at building Micheal’s character with very little. The exposition is kept to an absolute minimum, opening up Gerads’ art to do the heavy lifting. If the art weren’t so meticulous, the character work would be lost, and Micheal would appear flat. However, due to the team’s high level of craft, Micheal’s depiction is compelling and thoughtful. Half of the issue is spent contemplating accepting Bruce’s request, and though we already knew his decision, the time spent on it does wonders for the character as well as the reader’s own investment in the mystery.

As with the last issue, these scenes play counter to Shaner’s depiction of Strange’s adventures on Rann. While I was previously led to believe that the Rann sequences were the false truths the public are fed, this issue casts doubt on that idea. It doesn’t present an entirely heroic and fantastical version of Adam’s war, as it actually turns quite dirty by the end. This dirtiness leads me to believe that there may be more truth to the Shaner sections than I previously thought. It blurs the line in a way that makes the entire book more complex and interesting. It has me questioning the truth of what we’re shown in both Gerads’ and Shaner’s respective stories, and unsure of what to believe. It’s occurred to me that I’m overthinking things, but if that’s the case then the team still deserves credit for making me think at all.

The criticism I expected to make towards the book was that it may feel too similar to Mister Miracle to forge its own identity. However, it’s been a pleasant surprise to find that this book feels entirely distinct from it’s predecessor. This is largely due to the book’s structure being completely different.

While Mister Miracle heavily relies on 9-panel grids that highlight micro-moments, Strange Adventures pulls back the camera. It’s largely reliant on wide panels horizontally stacked on top of one another in threes. This method takes the focus off of subtle changes in expression and position and instead places it on a more abstract scale. It asks that the reader fill in more gaps on their own by taking away the specificity of how a scene plays out. This is beneficial on two levels. One, it allows the art to breathe. Two, it makes the mystery a tougher nut to crack.

Strange Adventures #2 manages to one-up the first without even pushing the present timeline forward. It deepens its mystery by muddying the waters of the truth even further while doing some terrific character building underneath. The artists play off of each other incredibly well, exemplifying King’s tight scripting. Books like this don’t often come from the Big Two, and it thrills me to see chances being taken.

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