REDCOAT #2, by Image Comics on 5/15/24, teams the rascally immortal with a young Albert Einstein to stop the vision of a fiery apocalypse coming to consume America.
Credits:
- Writer: Geoff Johns
- Artist: Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie
- Colorist: Brad Anderson
- Letterer: Rob Leigh
- Cover Artist: Bryan Hitch (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: May 15, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of REDCOAT #2:
Plot Analysis:
Simon Pure’s everlasting life just got a lot more complicated in Geoff Johns’s historical fiction tale with a supernatural twist. Redcoat #2 sets the stage for Simon to step into the hero role, whether he wants to or not.
Previously in Redcoat #1, readers met Simon Pure as a liar, coward, and generally talentless rascal. When his desertion during the Revolutionary War led to an accidental run-in with a magical ritual in process, Simon gained the power of immortality, and he’s regretted it ever since. When Simon is killed by a man with a grudge, he wakes up later when his grave is opened by a 13-year-old Einstein just as a hooded cult arrives to capture Simon.
In Redcoat #2, Simon and young Einstein battle with the hooded cultists and fight well enough to escape. In the melee, Simon is hit with an axe bearing strange, runic symbols. At first, Simon thinks nothing of it, but the wound, which should have healed by now, begins flaring magical power. It’s almost as if Simon is “leaking.”
Simon and Einstein hop on a train to seek out the only other Immortal Simon knows and the only man who might address Simon’s injury. During the ride, young Einstein explains he stowed away on a ship to reach America because his sister, Maja, had a series of visions showing America in flames. Real-life occurrences confirmed Maja’s visions were true, and those visions showed her a glowing man, a metal soldier, and an immortal wearing a red coat.
At the end of their journey, Simon and Einstein sneak into a ball in progress, hosted by a wealthy socialite and secret, fellow immortal, Benedict Arnold. Later, Simon and Einstein meet with Benedict privately for help. Thankfully, Benedict recognizes the axe used to damage Simon. Unfortunately, the wound means Simon is going to die.
Character Development:
One of the key sore spots of the first issue was Simon Pure’s total lack of redeeming qualities. He’s a selfish, lazy bum, which makes it hard to get invested in his future. Issue #2 improves on that sore spot by pushing Simon to reluctantly pursue a path to do great good, even if he grumbles and complains about it the entire time.
It would be an exaggeration to say Simon is now likable, but at least he’s on that path.
Artwork and Presentation:
Bryan Hitch’s semi-realistic art style is a pitch-perfect fit for Johns’s story. Simon’s sarcastic, irascible attitude is elevated significantly by his looks of exasperation, eye-rolling, and general annoyance at having to deal with anything that he believes would be an inconvenience.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Geoff Johns’s pacing is peppy and spirited, reflecting the Indiana Jones-esque lightness of the adventure Simon and Einstein undertake. Perhaps Brisco County Jr. would be a closer analogy. To be clear, the stakes of their quest are world-ending, but the spirit of adventure buoys the atmosphere considerably.
Regarding the structure, issue #2 goes a long way toward clarifying the point of this series. Issue #1 spent almost the entire issue introducing and building Simon’s character, but so much time was spent on character-building that the plot fell by the wayside. Here, the path and destination are now clear.
Thematic Exploration:
Despite the much clearer establishment of a journey and a destination, the theme is not wholly clear or obvious. In a roundabout way, you could say Simon is on a journey to redeem his life as a lazy, selfish, bum. From another point of view, the story is about making good use of the gift you’ve been given.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Einstein’s explanation of his sister’s visions describes a glowing man and a metal soldier, so it appears Johns is laying the foundation for Redcoat to intersect with Geiger and Junkyard Joe in the not-so-distant future.
Historical Context:
Geoff Johns’s plot is all fiction, but the new characters introduced or names dropped have real-world connections. For example, Albert Einstein did have a sister named Maja, so we can anticipate the appearance of more historical figures as the story continues.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
REDCOAT #2 teams up Simon Pure with young Einstein for a traveling adventure to stop a fiery apocalypse from consuming America. Johns successfully transitions Pure from a thoughtless bum to a potential hero, and Hitch’s art is excellent.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.