78 MPH #2, from Red 5 Comics on May 4th, 2022, turns the post-apocalyptic adventure on its head when a doomsday cult attempts to deliver the convoy to Judgment Day only to learn their prayers may have been answered in a completely different way.
The Details
- Written By: Mauro Mantella
- Art By: Tomas Aira
- Colors By: Tomas Aira
- Letters By: Tomas Aira
- Cover Art By: German Peralta
- Cover Price: $3.95
- Release Date: May 4, 2022
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Was It Good?
Out of nowhere, 78 MPH #2 does something few comics accomplish. It surprises just as much (if not more) than the first issue. This is one of those comics that finishes with a “Whoa! What did I just read?” reaction, and that’s one of the highest compliments we can give.
We praised issue #1 for its brutally efficient setup and highly inventive world-building. If you don’t recall, an attempt at repairing the ozone layer goes horribly wrong, turning the atmosphere into a giant magnifying glass. The few inhabitants left on Earth are forced to band together in a perpetually moving convoy designed to outrace the Sun. The premise is inventive and rife with storytelling potential.
In issue #2, the premise doesn’t assume a status quo and builds on it. Instead, Mantella kicks up the imagination two notches by introducing mutations (more details in the next section if you want to know more). The introduction of this swerve (no pun intended) is a game-changer for where you think the story is headed. Again, the best stories find a way to surprise you.
Mantella’s pacing is tight, the plot developments come rapid-fire, each story beat hits with tremendous impact, and the curiosity meter is off the charts.
Aira’s art is subtle yet effective. When the colony is bathed in perpetual dawn, it would be easy to let the monotone palette saturate the scenes, but Aira makes it work with effective shadow contrast and strong lines to keep you visually engaged.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you want a refresher on how Earth’s troubles started, first read our 78 MPH #1 review.
In the last issue, we saw how an ill-fated attempt to heal the atmosphere turned the Sun’s rays into an unstoppable force of destruction. The last of humanity created an unstopping convoy colony that never stops moving at 78 MPH to outrace the Sun, leaving the colonists in the perpetual dawn light and struggling to survive with small livestock breeding and tiny gardens.
Now, Ches is summoned by the (jealous) leader of a newly-formed cult, Chuen. The one-on-one meeting is a ruse as Chuen sees Ches as a threat to his authority, and Chuen wants something in Ches’s belongings that he knows Ches would never give willingly. Chuen uses a surprise move to toss Ches off the convoy, leaving him to die in the approaching dawn.
Ches wakes up a few moments before the dawn, but to his shock, his clothes burn off and he remains unharmed. As Ches walks through the sunlit wastes, he sees another being walking toward him. We conclude the issue with an explanation of bloodlines, an unexpected benefit of radiation, and a prophecy fulfilled.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
78 MPH #2 is a humdinger of a second issue. The premise is already inventive, but the new developments here turn the world on its head. We can’t wait to find out what happens next.
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