DJINN HUNTER #2, available from Blackbox Comics on September 22nd, 2021, concludes Zara’s first battle with a noble warrior possessed of dark magic and the lesson that every wish comes with a price.
The Details
- Written By: Jay Sandlin
- Art By: Fabrizio Consentino
- Colors By: Fabrizio Consentino
- Letters By: Fabrizio Consentino
- Cover Art By: Fabrizio Consentino
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: September 22, 2021
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Was It Good?
Hmm. Hmmmm. 🤔
We’ve reviewed comics written by Sandlin before. Sandlin’s a good writer and puts together enjoyably comics, but this is something different. This issue accomplishes a lot in terms of story structure, pacing, integration of multiple threads, and backstory that you don’t see these days with this level of artistry.
I generally avoid creator praise or criticism, focusing instead on the creation, but there’s a quality of writing here that’s worth encouraging. This is possibly the most expertly written comic I’ve seen in years.
“Pish posh, Mr. Fancy Words. What’s so great about it?” you may ask with that snarky tone (and a slight lisp that nobody will tell you about except me).
Well, you get a full recounting of Zara’s backstory that’s more specific and tells you more about who she is as a character. It would be easy to fall into the trap of duplicating the first issue, but here it’s told as a montage that gives the backstory with a fresh angle and doesn’t interfere with the action already commencing.
Next, you get an extended battle that’s kinetic and full of twists and turns, AND you learn more about Zara through the fight. Too many comics these days rely on the “and then they fight” shortcut, but here, you get a better sense of Zara as a character through the way she fights and the choices she makes during the fight.
Then, the fight concludes with Bennu (her assistant and liaison to the Council) putting a challenging request to Zara. The way she responds to the challenge informs the reader about Zara’s priorities and which direction her internal compass points. Again, we’re building the character through the story rather than simply describing her.
(Almost) last, the issue is a complete chapter. Again, something you see rarely these days. We pick up from the cliffhanger in the last issue. We learn information about the main character, the main villain, and the rules of this universe. The central conflict is resolved. And we move on with a clear, effective cliffhanger to entice the readers to continue.
It’s almost as if I’ve gone back in time to the golden age of comics. To that, I say “More please!”
Consentino’s art is stunning. We get introduced in this issue to the first sub-boss of the series, and it’s a terrifying mess. You may want to look away if you have a fear of spiders, but for the rest of us that like to see big nasties, this is a great design.
The colorwork is gorgeous, especially the skies and backgrounds capturing the rainbow of colors from a setting sun reflected off clouds. And I’m intrigued by Consentino’s creative panel composition. Every page is visually interesting and worth the cover price.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Don’t make a wish until you first read our DJINN HUNTER #1 review.
We pick up mid-cliffhanger with Zara and Bennu facing off against a shinobi tricked into a dark magic spell by Abyss and his lackeys. The narration recounts Zara’s history and how she got into the current predicament while the action plays out. When Zara looks like she’s getting beaten back, she decides to take more aggressive tactics.
The shinobi loses hold of his sword, and we see the sword is the source of the wish’s power over him. Separated from its wielder, a massive spider monster manifests from the sword to kill Zara and Bennu. Briefly, the story switches to a flashback to show how the shenobi made a wish in the hopes of staving off an attack on his village, but every wish comes with a price, and the shenobi realizes too late his wish was a cure worse than the disease.
Back to the fight. Zara holds her own against the spider monster but only just. She yells to Bennu and the now-wounded shenobi to destroy the sword and end the curse. When they find where the sword landed, Bennu’s phoenix flame is useless against the dark magic shielding the sword from damage.
We conclude the issue with the realization that some ties must truly be severed, a phoenix has no understanding of emotions, and Zara’s determination to soldier on without the help she needs may be her undoing.
Final Thoughts
DJINN HUNTER #2 is a near-perfect blend of action, character development, and world-building. The action is tense and exciting. The visuals are colorful and rich. And the issue ends as a proper chapter, setting up the next battle to come.
Score: 9.5/10
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