ISOM #2, from Rippaverse Comics, finds Avery Silman’s problems multiplying when Darren gets rough with Avery’s sister, and Sam gets kidnapped by beasts from Hell.
The Details
- Written by: Eric July
- Art by: Cliff Richards
- Colors by: Gabe Eltaeb
- Letters by: Eric Weathers
- Cover art by: Uncredited
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $35.00
- Release date: August 2023 (estimated)
Is ISOM #2 Good?
ISOM #2 brings readers back to Avery Silman’s no good, very bad day when the local gangster, Darren Fontaino, wants payback for Avery’s disrespect, and Avery’s troubles deepen when monsters from Hell arrive to forewarn of massive trouble on the horizon. Eric July’s sophomore offering packs in loads of world- and character-building, backstory, and more to justify the hefty price tag, but whether or not the price is worth it is up to you.
When last we left Avery Silman, aka ISOM, he resigned himself to a life of quiet retirement from the superhero life when the local gangster’s, Darren Fontaino’s, abusive ways forced Avery to quietly get his hands dirty. Darren gleefully employed enhanced individuals, called Excepts, to act as bodyguards, but Avery was up for the challenge. Now, Darren wants payback for the disrespect, starting with Avery’s sister, Altona. Meanwhile, one of Avery’s men is kidnapped by beasts from Hell, leading Avery into a strange war that he didn’t know existed.
Let’s get the big question out of the way. Is ISOM #2 better than ISOM #1? On practically every level, yes. This is a far superior graphic novel compared to its predecessor, which makes the price tag a bit easier to swallow. The dialog is better, scene construction and transitions are better, the art quality hasn’t dipped in the slightest, and you get a surprising amount of story content.
Further, we received a physical copy rather than a digital version, as we do with almost all our reviews. The GN is Sturdy with a capital ‘S.’ The cover is made from heavy cardstock, and the ink doesn’t smudge. Regardless of our opinion of the story, this GN is physically made with quality in mind.
What’s great about ISOM #2? In addition to the across-the-board improvements in the writing execution, ISOM #2 puts in overtime to build backstory and world-building to answer many of the open questions introduced in #1. You learn why Avery went into retirement, you get bits and pieces about the larger world, including hints about past conflicts and where this story sits in time (hint: it’s not as simple as “now”), and the eclectic cast of supporting characters grows in new and interesting ways. This GN took a year to put out, and it feels like not a single second was wasted.
What’s not so great about ISOM #2? The teases that expand ISOM’s world are positive but sometimes feel like a negative. Just when you answer the question about why ISOM retired, you get hints about past wars that created new US territories, and beasts from Hell are not a new thing, and ISOM has even more powers (maybe) that we haven’t seen. For every question that gets answered, one or two take its place.
In fairness, the story is meaty and largely satisfying, but you’re left with a feeling that you’re continually missing a piece of the whole story.
How’s the art? Excellent. The art team is populated by Big 2 veterans, so it would be foolish to expect subpar work, but it’s nice to have expectations confirmed. Cliff Richards’s creature designs (there’s a whole menagerie in here) are unique, the action sequences are well-choreographed, and Eltaeb’s coloring is outstanding.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s ISOM #2 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our ISOM #1 review to find out how Avery ran afoul of Darren’s business dealings.
We begin with Altona receiving a visit at her place of business by Darren and his thugs. Altona gets roughed up a bit when Lincoln, the company’s founder and powerhouse in his own right, steps in to send Darren packing. Until the situation is resolved, Lincoln arranges to have Altona and her daughter placed under security protection.
Elsewhere, Avery arrives at his farm’s security office to find Sam missing and the door wide open. Inside, Avery is attacked by furry beasts that create fire and are strong enough to pierce Avery’s superhuman skin. The beasts leave after setting fire to all the security records, and Avery concludes the beasts arrived as a warning/message.
Later, Avery enlists the help of Goodyng, a security and investigations expert, to find out what happened to Sam and discover the source of the beasts. In turn, Goodyng sends Avery to meet with Sydney Bloodruth, a master of blood magic and the occult, when the investigation takes a supernatural turn.
We conclude the GN with a lesson about the true nature of Hell, a knockdown/drag-out fight in a cave, and the mark of the beast.
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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ISOM #2 answers questions, builds worlds, and expands everything you need to know about ISOM before he wages war on the criminals who rule the city and the monsters who rule Hell itself. On practically every level, the writing is significantly better than #1, and the art is top-tier quality.
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