In JENNIFER BLOOD (VOL. 2) #2, available from Dynamite Comics on November 3rd, 2021, the body count in Bountiful keeps climbing as Jennifer Blood and her Italian nemesis, Giulietta Romeo, play the most deadly game of cat-and-mouse ever.
The Details
- Written By: Fred Van Lente
- Art By: Vincenzo Federici
- Colors By: Dearbhla Kelly
- Letters By: Simon Bowland
- Cover Art By: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: November 3, 2021
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Was It Good?
Sì, mio amico. Ecco come lo fai*.
(*Translated from Italian: “Yes, my friend. This is how you do it”)
I can’t believe how much fun I had with this issue. Issue #1 barely scratched the surface with Jennifer Blood’s ability to put an end to the ruthless citizens of Bountiful, but here you get so much more. The twists and turns are clever, Blood fooled me with a bait and switch I did not see coming, and she puts the bad guys down in ways that would make the Punisher say “Oh, that’s a little over-the-top.”
What elevated the issue beyond the violence and kharmic satisfaction of seeing deplorable criminals get their comeuppance is the slick execution of the narrative. Blood is a fox in the metaphorical sense. She’s at least three steps ahead of everyone and she appears to be having as much fun frustrating her enemies as we are watching her enemies get frustrated. Sticking with the Italian motif, imagine a Giallo film where Diabolik is the killer and hero.
Federici’s art is fantastic in this issue. Every scene is filled with larger-than-life characters with facial expressions and personalities that are as over-the-top as their actions. Federici pushes that emotion with character designs using traditionally Western pencils infused with an Eastern flare for exaggerated facial expression. It works beautifully.
If you’re looking for a crime comic with a mix of Giallo and grindhouse sensibilities, this issue is right up your alley.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
“What is Bountiful?” you ask. Well, read our JENNIFER BLOOD (VOL. 2) #1 review to find out.
It’s the 4th of July in the town of Bountiful, and everyone is getting ready for the festivities. However, the copycat Jennifer Blood (or is she really back from the dead?) is putting a damper on the party planning.
Judge Jebediah Whitlock (also a criminal) meets with the recently arrived assassin, Giulietta Romeo, on her request. The Judge so happens to have an old journal from Jennifer Blood since he’s a collector of criminal memorabilia, and Romeo wants the book to get inside Blood’s head. We soon learn the Judge will only give up the book for an unsavory favor in return.
The Judge is willing to give up the book if Romeo can help him fake his death to get out of Bountiful. The plan is either rally smart or really stupid, but Romeo agrees with the intention of using the Judge’s “body” to lure Blood out of hiding. However, the plan works too well as the plan lures Blood out of hiding long before anyone suspects to snatch the Judge’s “body” for a personal chat.
We conclude the issue with the Judge paying the price for his convicted crimes, Romeo realizing how fully and easily she was duped, and an unpleasant end to the the fireworks.
Final Thoughts
JENNIFER BLOOD (VOL. 2) #2 is a masterful display of expert assassins engaged in a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse. The twist and turn are unexpected, and the art makes every character feel larger-than-life in the best way. This was a thoroughly entertaining issue.
Score: 9.5/10
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