DEAD DETECTIVE #2, by BlackBox Comics on 12/20/23, sends Lt. Falls down the rabbit hole of death when the portal to the underworld reunites him with his late partner, Rex Danto.
The Details
- Written by: Bob Heyoka
- Art by: Fabio Lima Jansen
- Colors by: Adriano Augusto
- Letters by: Dezi Sienty
- Cover art by: Fabio Lima Jansen
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $5.99
- Release date: December 20, 2023
Is DEAD DETECTIVE #2 Good?
DEAD DETECTIVE #2 shows a lot of promise in Bob Heyoka’s supernatural buddy cop story. Readers get a walking tour of limbo as Lt. Falls tries to make sense of his situation, which is interesting, but after two issues, the series is falling into a fatal trap.
When last we left Lt. Jim Falls, years had passed since his partner’s untimely demise at the hands of a demon-worshipping cult. Falls visited his partner’s grave on the anniversary of his death and discovered a mysterious tunnel that led to a supernatural realm. Now, Lt. Falls finds himself in a limbo populated by the deceased, monsters, and demons who all try to stay alive until they’re called to their final destination. Thankfully for Lt. Falls, Rex Danto is still waiting for his turn.
Where the first issue set up the scenario that led to Rex Danto’s death, DEAD DETECTIVE #2 squarely focuses on the supernatural world between Heaven and Hell, which looks surprisingly like downtown Detroit… with the undead and demons.
What’s great about DEAD DETECTIVE #2? Heyoka crafts a limbo that feels expansive, detailed, and lived-in. Asphodel, Michigan (the name of this corner of limbo) practically begs to be explored with supernatural twists on mundane businesses and people.
What’s not so great about DEAD DETECTIVE #2? The fatal trap of this series (so far) is that Heyoka has constructed a captivating scenario (a conglomeration of people, places, and things), but there is no story. A story is a journey with one or more conflicts, and to date, there is no obvious journey, and there certainly isn’t a conflict… yet. Heyoka is spending a lot of time setting up but not much else.
How’s the art? Fabio Lima Jansen’s art is great. This issue is Jansen’s opportunity to flex his imagination muscles with a wide array of undead and demonic figures, and he flexes mightily to keep the visuals interesting.
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What’s DEAD DETECTIVE #2 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our DEAD DETECTIVE #1 review to find out how the living Lt. Falls found himself in the city of the dead.
We begin with Lt. Falls walking through the mist-shrouded forest he entered from the cemetery tunnel. Falls eventually stumbles upon what looks like an average city that the decaying inhabitants call Aphodel, Michigan.
Confused by his circumstance, Lt. Falls finds a phone and calls for help, instinctively asking for his deceased partner, Rex Danto, by name. Danto receives word of the call from the Asphodel police station, and he finds his partner in a state of exhaustion and bewilderment.
We conclude the issue with a grand tour, demons come to collect what’s due, and demons come to collect what they want.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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DEAD DETECTIVE #2 accompanies Lt. Falls to the limbo of the afterlife when he falls into a mysterious tunnel. Heyoka constructs a surreal city populated by an eclectic cast of characters, and Jansen’s creature art looks great, but the series is only a scenario in search of a story.
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