In DIE!NAMITE LIVES! #2, available from Dynamite Comics on July 14th, 2021, the world’s military forces battle Evil Red Sonja’s zombie army when a visitor from a future alternate timeline brings hope for humanity.
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The Details
- Written By: Fred Van Lente
- Art By: Vincenzo Carratù
- Colors By: Kike J. Diaz
- Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Cover Art By: Lucio Parrillo
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: July 14, 2021
Was It Good?
It was okay. It didn’t blow me away but it was good enough to further a piece of the story. It definitely was not as good as issue #1.
That may seem a bit unfair as each issue should be critiqued on its own merits. However, every issue still fits within an over-arching narrative and needs to further the overall story in some way that satisfies both as a single issue AND the next chapter of the story. Here, we get barely enough meat for the story to stand on its own and only get a few nuggets to barely move the overall plot forward.
That’s not to say what we did get wasn’t fun or interesting but this issue reads like one extended scene that witnesses events happening in some other location. In short, you’re observing a character observing events, and it feels like a disconnected reading experience.
Fortunately, the art elevates this issue above the writing. Carratù peppers in plenty of unique camera angles and visual wow moments to keep you engaged in the story. Plus, you get to see plenty of new visuals that aren’t present in most comics these days — countries getting nuked, radiation-mutated zombies, and probably the most unusual bridge you’ve ever seen.
The one drawback with the art, however, is the muddy color palette choices. Plenty of drab grays and greens are used, that while appropriate for the subject matter, significantly mute the energy of the book.
It’s an okay story with a few visual wow moments but not much else.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We start sometime and someplace after the events of the first issue. Read our DIE!namite LIves! #1 review to find out where Evil Red Sonja comes from.
Nearly the entire issue is told from the perspective of a tough-as-nails US Army General giving a briefing on the rapidly spreading zombie plague. Nukes don’t work as they wind up creating more zombies; some of the radiation mutant variety. And the infection is spreading too fast for soldiers to keep up with traditional firearms.
Captain Future of Project: Superpowers fame arrives from an alternate, future timeline to offer assistance. He claims he has the solution because they solved the zombie problem in his own timeline.
Meanwhile, Vampirella and Pantha discuss the situation in their new “safe house.” Pantha believes she has a magical solution involving an incantation in a mythical book called the Necronomicon. At this point, we see how Ash Williams (introduced in the last issue) comes into play. We conclude the issue with all teams making their own plans to save the world.
Final Thoughts
DIE!NAMITE LIVES! #2 has a few visual punches and starts to tie the crossover threads together, but the disconnected narration keeps readers from feeling like they’re part of the story.
Score: 6.5/10
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