POSSESSIVE #2 – Review

In POSSESSIVE #2, available from Zenescope Entertainment on September 15th, 2021, Todd’s attempt at exorcism for his ghostly tenant turns into an intervention for him with romantically complicated consequences.

The Details

• Written By: Hans Rodionoff, Adam F. Goldberg
• Art By: Eduardo Garcia
• Colors By: Robby Bevard
• Letters By: Carlos M. Mangual
• Cover Art By: Martin Coccolo
• Cover Price: $5.99
• Release Date: September 15, 2021

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Was It Good?

This was a better issue than the first one, partly because it makes more sense for the tone and concept.

The first issue was strange (read our POSSESSIVE #1 review here) in that the premise is set up as a comedy but there was very little that was funny in the first issue. Todd is an unlikable and abrasive loser whose life is falling apart. The ghost is a shrieking, deadly harpy who’s not afraid to mutilate and kill with little provocation. In all, the setup in the first issue leaves a sour taste.

In issue #2, Goldberg and Rodionoff turn the story around into what you might expect from the initial solicit. When a down-on-his-luck loser hits rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up, and Todd does go up with some aggressively tough love from a murderous ghost who sees something in him that he doesn’t see in himself. The juxtaposition between a redemption story and a ghost story is bizarre but there’s a sweetness here in the second issue. Goldberg and Rodionoff bring out the connective tissue between the genres about two people helping each other find peace.

When two “souls” become close, feelings are bound to make things complicated, and they certainly get complicated when Todd’s soon-to-be-ex-wife finds his turnaround attractive. To be fair, turning the story into a freaky love triangle is a turn you could see coming from a mile away, but it doesn’t make the turn any less interesting, and it builds a healthy amount of curiosity for the third (and final) issue.

Garcia and the team put in a fine bit of work for the art in this issue. It’s standard comic book fare without getting too cartoonish, considering the ghostly antics. The artistic highpoint is the transformations of the two main characters when transitioning to better versions of themselves. It’s a series of small, subtle changes that are oddly effective (oddly when you consider one is a ghost).

In all, I’m more firmly on board with the series compared to the first issue and pleasantly curious to see what happens next.

What’s It About?

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

We pick up from the end of the last issue where Tood has hit rock bottom and his last attempt at self-destruction involves getting the ghost to kill him, but she refuses. When todd wakes up, he finds the ghost destroying all his liquor and taking gruesome steps to prevent todd from buying any more. It’s the weirdest tough love intervention you’ll likely ever see.

Later, Todd solicits the help of a priest to perform an exorcism. It doesn’t work, so good heads to the town library to find out more about the house’s history. when Todd gets back to the house, he confronts the ghost about moving on when he realizes she’s the victim of abuse and murder at the hands of her husband.

Unsurprisingly, the ghost’s heavy-handed attempts at an intervention work and Todd begins to get sober, clean himself up, clean the house up, and get back on track with his painting. Before long, every area of Todd’s life is trending toward betterment. He’s even developed a fondness for the ghost, despite her creepy presence.

The last act of the issue focuses on escalating success in Todd’s painting career, fondness turning into something more, and a visit from an old flame that causes an unsurprising reaction from the ghost.

Final Thoughts

POSSESSIVE #2 finds its footing by giving you a redemption story and a main character you can root for. The art is solid throughout the issue with a subtly effective transformation sequence that makes you like the characters even more. While the first issue was a “wait and see’ recommendation, this issue is a winner for its heart.

Score: 9/10