DOWNLOAD #2 – Review

DOWNLOAD #2, from Red 5 Comics on February 16th, 2022, puts the pieces together when Eric and his friends test the gadgets birthed from designs gifted to Eric via a strange light from the sky.

The Details

• Written By: Scott Chitwood
• Art By: Danny Luckert
• Colors By: P.H. Gomes
• Letters By: Troy Peteri, Dave Lanphear
• Cover Art By: Danny Luckert
• Cover Price: $3.95
• Release Date: February 16, 2022

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Was It Good?

DOWNLOAD #2 is better than issue #1. The art’s the same, the premise hasn’t changed, and the technical quality of the two issues is identical. But issue #2 is the point where the story starts to get fun, and it beats issue #1 on sheer entertainment factor alone.

We noted in the review of issue #1 that this title felt like a pleasant throwback to family-friendly sci-fi adventure films of the 80s and 90s. In issue #2, that family-friendly appeal kicks into overdrive as the good-natured but naive kids start testing our Eric’s devices with a limited understanding of safety, resulting in some injuries and destruction. You can feel a childlike sense of adventure in their experiments where an adult/parent would be horrified at the risks being taken. There’s something to be said for the joy of curious adventure when it overcomes the fear of the unknown.

The plot is simplistic and familiar which is also part of its charm. Kids run around pushing buttons while they hide behind boxes and corners. Eventually, adults show up to take what they have or lock them up. It’s almost formulaic in its simplicity but the kids are having such an adventure of discovery that you don’t mind it at all.

Luckert’s art is a little better in this issue for the same reason the writing is a little better in this issue. Luckert gets to play with panel angles and mimic video recordings to inject the proceedings with a light patina of comedy. To be clear, the art isn’t jokey or slapstick but you can chuckle at the kids getting blown back by an exploding red bubble as long as no serious harm is done.

In all, DOWNLOAD #2 is a significantly more entertaining issue than the first.

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 have no idea where Eric got these crazy ideas, first read our DOWNLOAD #1 review.

We begin with a flashback to Ancient Greece where a learned scholar finds himself driven mad by the designs that bombarded his mind after his exposure to a mysterious light from the sky. Now, we see Eric and his friends recording experiments to test each device they build from the same designs Eric received in the last issue.

One device generates floating red bubbles that explode. Another device shakes any assembled machine apart into pieces. Some devices have no clear purpose at all. However, Eric soon sees that the designs have ports that allow for connecting multiple devices. When he hooks up a power accelerator to a laser pointer, the results are highly destructive.

Meanwhile, the hired hands from the Serizawa Corporation have found Eric and they approach him on two fronts. One group breaks into his garage to steal what they can, the other approaches Eric in broad daylight with a tempting offer.

We conclude the issue with a history lesson and a warning.

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