THE LAST DAYS OF US: FORSAKEN #2 – Review

THE LAST DAYS OF US: FORSAKEN #2, Second Sight Publishing on May 4th, 2022, puts Cal and Vida on the case of a local merchant murdered by a wizard assassin. As the details emerge, Vida learns the merchant may have been lost in life while playing with magical forces of his own.

The Details

• Written By: Sebastian Suarez
• Art By: Francisco Paronzini
• Colors By: Diego Fiorucci
• Letters By: Diego Fiorucci
• Cover Art By: Max Fiurama
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: March 16, 2022

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Was It Good?

THE LAST DAYS OF US: FORSAKEN #2 continues the murder mystery in 19th-Century London with tight pacing, solid dialog, creative magic, monsters, and a little bit of gore. In short, it’s a solid follow-up to the first issue.

In the first issue, readers were given a strong introduction to Cal and Vida as members of the Order, a mystical organization dedicated to keeping magical and demonic misdeeds in check, starting with a murder committed by a magic-wielding assassin. In issue #2, the murder investigation is in full swing, and Suarez does a masterful job of unfolding the clues to give readers something to noodle over without telegraphing the answers or making the clues so obscure as to take out the fun of guessing. Good mysteries require teasing the audience along to bring them in on the fun of figuring it out. On that count, Suarez succeeds spectacularly.

Beyond the mystery, the highlight of the issue is Suarez’s excellent characterizations of Vida and Cal. They’re wise, confident, experienced, and capable, but they’re not the same. They complement each other’s weaknesses with strengths with distinctive personalities, and they play off each other with a comfortable, natural rhythm that gives the couple an air of authenticity.

Paired with the writing is some darn fine art. The colors from Fiorucci are especially eye-catching. Parnozini’s linework is excellent. Put together, the two turn out striking visuals during the magic sequences for a visually pleasing comic.

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What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

It’s been a magical minute, so if you’re not sure what’s going on, first read our THE LAST DAYS OF US: FORSAKEN #1 review.

We begin with Cal having a dream (nightmare?) about a monstrous creature terrorizing a town in Afghanistan. There’s no time to wait for reinforcements, so he makes the call to charge in with his small team. Suddenly, he’s awoken by a call from Scotland Yard to investigate a murder.

Later, Cal and Vida are brought to the crime scene where they find Roger Blackmoore hot to death. Vida quickly discerns the killer used advanced levels of magic to infiltrate the bedroom as Blackmoore had multiple magic wards in place for protection. Cal concludes the killer is a powerful wizard and new in town as nobody who lives in the region has the power necessary to break the wards.

Cal and Vida inspect the room and question Mrs. Blackmoore. More information suggests Blackmoore was involved in a secret project involving magic and whoever killed him intended to stop the project or steal the discoveries. Vida leaves to track down Blackmoore’s lab. When she arrives, she’s attacked by two vampires who’ve been following her since she left the Blackmoore residence.

We conclude the issue with knowledge of an unusual experiment, an illegal business meeting, and the assassin striking again.

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