Wild Blue Yonder #2 Review


Is the second outing as strong as the first issue, or has this new series failed to take flight above your buy pile?  Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

The critically acclaimed creator-owned book from IDW continues! As the newest recruit aboard an elusive solar-powered airship, Tug begins his training as a “Gun.” On the run from The Judge, Tug has just joined the sky’s Most Wanted, but with the beautiful Cola as his pilot, and the ferocious Scram as his coach, what could go wrong?

With a world that lays largely in ruins below man has taken to the skies; and that awesome concept right there is just the backdrop of this uniquely human affair.  Beyond it we have explorations involving a tyrannical government, questions of freedom, justice and fairness all sprinkled around a family that seeks nothing more than to take care of their own as they soar among the clouds.

Zach Howard and Austin Harrison combine forces with series scribe Mike Raicht to bring this odyssey to life.   The author uses text to highlight the empathetic elements of this original series while giving us some potent, compelling and even powerful situations that echo the hard facts of survival in a world that’s largely gone insane.  I have to say the crowning achievement here is the dialogue, as the words flow brilliantly but in a honest way that creates a genuine atmosphere which brilliantly sets the stage for that final page turning twist.

The art by Zach Howard matches the overall quality by offering a slightly chaotic but nonetheless sophisticated vision.  It amazes me how each pencil stroke offers depth, realism and a bit of naive hope all mixed together in order to bring this compelling adventure to life.  There’s something about the renditions that instantly made me feel attached to the characters as the diverse technologies and sophisticated design sense impressed from the first page to the final panel.

Wild Blue Yonder #2 is part odyssey and family drama that exists wrapped up in a shimmering glaze that’s sure to attract followers.  Highly recommended.

4.5/5

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