NEMESIS: ROGUES GALLERY #2, by Dark Horse Comics on 8/28/24, finds Nemesis recruiting a worthy criminal to be his new partner to rebuild the empire he lost when superheroes returned.
Credits:
- Writer: Mark Millar
- Artist: Valerio Giangiordano
- Colorist: Lee Loughridge
- Letterer: Clem Robins
- Cover Artist: Valerio Giangiordano
- Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
- Release Date: August 28, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of NEMESIS: ROGUES GALLERY #2:
First Impressions:
No! No, no, no, no, no, no. You’re not supposed to be entertained by the villain. That’s not how this is supposed to go. Oy! Mark Millar somehow makes you feel a little dirty inside with the latest entry in the comic series about a villain you love to hate, so Nemesis: Rogues Gallery #2 may make you question your moral compass, but at least you’ll have fun doing it.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Nemesis in Nemesis: Rogues Gallery #1, the titular character bided his time in a hospital while paralyzed from the neck down after the events of Big Game. A platoon of mercenaries stormed the hospital to “rescue” Nemesis so he could be taken to his old master for healing via a blood ritual, scheme to rebuild his empire, and possibly take on a sidekick. Meanwhile, a hospital employee left blinded by the mercenary attack receives a visit from a recruiter.
In Nemesis: Rogues Gallery #2, the issue starts with a jail cell in Rio De Janeiro occupied by career criminal Pedro Hernandez. Pedro is preparing to meet the judge, but the occupant of the next cell has a better idea. A series of useful devices are placed to facilitate Pedro’s escape, including keys for his cuffs and a secretly placed gun in the courtroom if he’s got the guts and commitment to follow instructions. Pedro eagerly agrees.
As we’ll soon see, Mark Millar’s latest addition to Nemesis’s associates is introduced with all the sharp, laser-focused, and brutal efficiency that makes Nemesis such a lethal character. There’s no redeeming aspect to Pedro Hernandez’s personality, so he seems to be a perfect choice to follow Nemesis on his path to dominance.
Pedro indeed follows instructions, resulting in a frantic courtroom shootout, an improvised change in plans when the first exit is blocked, and an explosive distraction. Nemesis not only handles the last leg of Pedro’s escape personally, but he handles it with style. What follows is a quick series of scenes where Nemesis requires Pedro to commit to the job completely, a montage of training lessons in technical skills, fighting skills, and social charms. In every sense, Nemesis strips Pedro down to his essence and remakes the new partner into the peak of criminal prowess.
Borrowing from another classic tale, Mark Millar creates the most offbeat version of Pygmalion you never knew you needed. Pedro dives into his lessons with gusto as Nemesis remakes Pedro’s mind, body, and influence to match his own. This shouldn’t be fun, but it is.
The issue concludes with Nemesis coming into some quick money, Pedro putting on his big boy pants, and Andy (the blinded hospital worker) learning the tools of the trade.
Overall, Mark Millar’s plot is still forming and taking shape, but it’s clear he’s setting up a collision course between Nemesis and a revenge group out for payback. That said, the journey is unbelievably entertaining, so Nemesis turns out to be one of the rare circumstances where you’ll be happy to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Artwork and Presentation:
Valerio Giangiordano’s artwork hits the nail on the head by depicting a supervillain story that looks grounded and gritty while still presenting an element of surrealism. Nemesis would look silly if you saw him on the street in real life, but Giangiordano infuses an element of gleeful menace in his eyes and the way the villain carries himself to let you know you need to stay away, which is exactly the point.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
The events that paralyzed Nemesis in issue #1 took place in last year’s Big Game crossover event. None of those developments are mentioned in this issue, but Nemesis points out that superheroes are now public knowledge, and they’re starting to form teams. That small tidbit could suggest Nemesis will cross paths with those teams in the near future or that Millarworld has more team books in development.
Final Thoughts:
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NEMESIS: ROGUES GALLERY #2 takes the villain you love to hate and spreads the love when he takes on a junior partner you’ll love to hate just as much. A villain-centric comic shouldn’t be this entertaining, but it is, so kudos to Mark Millar for producing another winner.
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