BARBARELLA: THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD #2, from Dynamite Comics on March 29th, 2023, finds Barbarella receiving a horrific history lesson about the Architects and their genocidal practices.
The Details
- Written by: Sarah Hoyt
- Art by: Riccardo Bogani
- Colors by: Werner Sanchez
- Letters by: Carlos M. Mangual
- Cover art by: Derrick Chew (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 29, 2023
Is It Good?
BARBARELLA: THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD #2 is an odd issue. It’s an odd issue in that the tone shifts dramatically compared to issue #1’s surreal wackiness into a dire fight for survival. You could be convinced the two issues were written for two different arcs. On the whole, issue #2 is a better comic than issue #1, but it’s still odd.
The highlight of Sarah Hoyt’s script is the interesting history of the Architects as told from the Innumerable’s point of view. We learn how the Architects came to be, what influence they’ve had on innumerable worlds (get it?) throughout the galaxy, and the devastation the Architects have inflicted in the name of peace.
That history is made all the more interesting due to the seed of doubt the Architects represent in Barbarella’s stories up to this point. How many of Barbarella’s missions have been directed or influenced by the Architects? Have Barbarella’s missions harmed people unintentionally because she was unwittingly doing the Architects’ bidding? These are curiosity-building questions that Hoyt successfully peppers throughout to get readers hooked for more.
Bogani and Sanchez deliver great art in this issue with interesting character designs through the introduction of multiple alien species, fantastical alien worlds, and dramatic visuals during the flashback montages. Sanchez’s coloring adds depth and texture to every surface, and Bogani’s inks are surprisingly detailed.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our BARBARELLA: THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD #1 review to find out how Barbarella first met the Innumerable.
We begin with Barbarella and her rabbit savior taking a moment to rest while he explains why his world is a crumbling wasteland. What follows is a lengthy but engaging history of the Architects and how they evolved to become the first intelligent overlords of the galaxy.
The Architects bore witness to worlds as they evolved and grew their own civilizations, occasionally intervening when war and strife got out of hand. As eons passed, the Architects began recruiting especially bright individuals from fledgling worlds to help develop better technology. Unfortunately, the recruits learned too late that the Architects would decimate their worlds while the recruits were gone as a preemptive strike against civilizations that could evolve into a future threat.
We conclude the issue with evidence, an invasive interrogation, and a rescue plan.
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Final Thoughts
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BARBARELLA: THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD #2 shifts away from the surreal nuttiness of issue #1 into an introduction of a disparate group of rebels facing a monstrous threat. The story fills in many blanks concerning the Architects, and the artwork is excellent.
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