GUMAA: THE BEGINNING OF HER #2, from Jeehyung Lee on Kickstarter, continues Khalida’s fateful ascension to Lord and Protector of the city when she makes a deal with Behema.
The Details
- Written by: Jeehyung Lee
- Art by: Nabetse Zitro, Jeehyung Lee
- Colors by: Jeehyung Lee
- Letters by: Jeehyung Lee
- Cover art by: Jeehyung Lee
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $10.00 (digital pack, issues #1-#5)
- Release date: December 2022 (estimated)
Is It Good?
GUMAA: THE BEGINNING OF HER #2 gets to the heart of the mysterious apocalypse teased in issue #1 with intense drama, betrayal, heartbreak, and the beginning of a curse that can only lead to bad things. Jeehyung Lee is taking his time putting all the pieces in place, but the simmering pace builds to a boil with each page turn.
When last we left Marsha and Khalida, Marsha took Behema at his word that he would let Marsha and her daughter go after two days to say goodbye. Knowing Behema couldn’t be trusted, Khalida confronted him to beg for Marsha’s release. Now, Behema makes a counteroffer that will doom Marsha to servitude in exchange for Khalida’s freedom, an offer Khalida accepts in a moment of weakness and soon regrets when the outcome of her betrayal turns into a nightmare.
Jeehyung Lee’s script is strangely deceptive. Superficially, the comic feels like it’s slow, and not much is happening, but when you take a higher view, quite a lot happens in a short period of time. At least in these early issues, this comic plays out as a deep, intense drama, which is atypical for the comic medium, but it’s written and acted so well, the gripping acting by the characters holds your attention, even without the benefit of big, splashy heroics or action set pieces.
Still, the bigger draw for most collectors will be Jeehyung Lee’s spectacular art. The character work is amazing, Jeehyung Lee’s facial gestures demand your attention, and dramatic emotion pours out from every panel. You’ll enjoy the story, but you’ll fall in love with the art.
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]
Check out our GUMAA: THE BEGINNING OF HER #1 review to find out how Marsha and Khalida fell in with Behema’s slave business.
We begin with Khalida returning to her room after her fateful meeting with Behema. Marsha continues to pray, not realizing what’s in store. Khalida gives Marsha the drugs she desperately craves.
In a flashback, we see the deal Behema struck with Khalida. If Khalida gives Marsha the drugs he takes out of a drawer in his desk, Khalida can go free. In her hopelessness and a moment of weakness, Khalida agrees.
After Marsha takes the drugs, she immediately recognizes something is wrong. As the tainted batch begins to overcome her system, Marsha realizes the betrayal and lashes out with the special dagger she keeps as a family heirloom. Marsha rakes Khalida’s face, scarring her for life, but Marsha receives greater damage in the scuffle.
We conclude the issue with death, doublecrosses, and a long fall down.
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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GUMAA: THE BEGINNING OF HER #2 lays the foundation for Khalida’s ascension to power with a simmering drama about desperation, betrayal, and death. The drama takes its time to set all the pieces in place for the coming apocalypse, but Jeehyung Lee’s art demands your attention on every page.
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