Comic Review: W0RLDTR33 #2

Publisher: Image Comics

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artists: Fernando Blanco & Jordie Bellaire

Letterer: Aditya Bidikar

The first issue of W0RLDTR33 #1 pulled readers into a perplexing and gripping world in which the internet is weaponized to make people do awful things. Of course, that statement just sounds like reality, but the horror element mixed with literal brainwashing and an enigmatic naked antagonist gives this new horror series some steady legs. The second issue doesn’t necessarily give any answers, but its full of impressive worldbuilding and character development that will serve the rest of this series well.

W0RLDTR33 #2 isn’t as dense as the debut issue, but writer James Tynion uses this issue to set the stage for some thrills later. Ellison Lane spends some time in law enforcement’s custody, while most of the rest of the cast investigates the home of the mass shooter. One character gets in a little too deep, while the rest of them spills their guts and lets the reader learn much more about them than you would expect in a new series’ second issue.

Tynion does an excellent job at building up the mystery while adding depth to his characters. The first issue had a thought-provoking conversation about the internet’s impact on young people, while this W0RLDTR33 #2 has an equally provocative conversation about relationships and vulnerability. It’s a completely different vibe, but it just works. It’s compelling and provides a surprisingly natural way for the reader to connect to characters that they just met.

All of this might make one think that W0RLDTR33 is a bit of a slow burn, but it’s the opposite. Tynion IV effectively keeps the ball rolling while developing the world and characters in a way that is rare in this medium. Plenty still happens in this issue, and there is a persistent tension embedded between every panel. Fernando Blanco frames each panel in a way that keeps every page exciting. It can be pages of just conversation or a couple of moments of action, but every page is just as captivating as the last. The art is framed well and every character is expressive, making every moment engaging.

While Tynion IV and Blanco keep the narrative engaging, colorist Jordie Bellaire and letterer Aditya Bidikar breathe life into this issue. Bellaire’s colors add plenty of depth to Blanco’s art while also implementing some pretty neat effects to show some of the messed-up results of the Undernet. Funky blues, reds, and purples make it clear that something sinister is going on, and Bidikar’s letters add gnarly sound effects to everything. I’m not sure what exactly is the intended sound effect, but my brain registers something, and it is unnerving. The two come together to make the most of this visual medium while also leaving a lot to the reader’s imagination. It’s a fantastic collaborative effort that showcases the best that the medium has to offer.