Comic Review: The Weatherman #2

The Weatherman #2

Image Comics

Writer: Jody LeHeup

Artist: Nathan Fox

And we’re back on Mars.

Nathan Bright, The Weatherman, is taken into custody. The last issue saw him targeted by a mercenary group while on a date, just to end up being apprehended by his “girlfriend”. As it turns out, Nathan is accused of attacking Earth seven years prior to the events of the book. Calling it an attack is putting it mildly – genocide is a far better word. This genocide, carried out by an extremist religious cult, wiped out 18 billion people – the complete population of Earth. Religious zealotry is obviously going to be a big theme propelling this story, as we witness a new (albeit in another form) terror attack.

What works?

LeHeup wastes no time as she quickly provides some clarification of the accusations against Nathan. While it might seem silly at first, the reasoning is actually intriguing. It asks some not-so-simple questions about identity, amnesia, and guilt. I look forward to exploring this question in the coming issues and see where LeHeup takes it.

The characters feel a bit cliched, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Tropes and cliches can actually help the flow of a story since they set up characters without wasting too much time.

The world building continues seamlessly as we learn more about the antagonists of the book and the way the genocide affected the characters. The book flows smoothly thanks to simple, yet effective paneling and we get some really nice vistas. But more on the art department in a second.

Any complaints?

I’m not a fan of the art. Nathan Fox’s stylised art is too messy at times and the coloring makes the book feel kind of flat. It’s better than the first issue (which I really disliked), but not by much. The character design is well done and it helps their characterization, and there are really some nice looking scenes, like the final page splash. But that’s the best thing I can say about it. There’s nothing special to distinguish it from your run-of-the-mill sci-fi setting. The art is forgettable, is what I’m trying to say.

So… Is it worth it?

Despite the lackluster art, the book is still worth checking out, mostly thanks to LeHeup’s writing. Nathan and Amanda have an interesting dynamic going on and the issue ends with a shocking cliffhanger, which leaves them relying only on each other. There are some good ideas behind the project and I’m genuinely curious to see how things will unfold.