SKINBREAKER #2 – New Comic Review

Skinbreaker #2, by Image Comics on 10/22/25, hurls Anok into power and doesn’t let up, pitting fragile new traditions against the growls of warriors too stubborn to change.

Credits:

• Writer: Robert Kirkman
• Artist: David Finch
• Colorist: Annalisa Leoni
• Letterer: Rus Wooton
• Cover Artist: David Finch (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: October 22, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 30
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of SKINBREAKER #2:

First Impressions:

Gut reaction: this one bites hard. The tension seeps out of every savage panel as Anok’s grief and authority go head-to-head with the tribe’s old guard. The art swings between brutal and somber, keeping every page as sharp as Skinbreaker’s blade.

Recap:

In Skinbreaker #1, Anok’s world was upended as the chieftain Enor, once unstoppable, faded and set his ambitions on Anok, a reluctant healer more concerned with his family than power. Anok’s son was ridiculed when his rite of passage faltered, while the rival Thul’s ambitions threatened to plunge the village into chaos. The first issue closed with rising blood, lingering doubts, and challenges that could only end with death.

Plot Analysis:

The story opens on the eve of upheaval, with Anok weighed down by a mentor’s looming death and a tribe’s restless hunger for strength. Enor’s passing isn’t peaceful; tradition demands mortal combat, and Anok is forced into a duel he never wanted. The fight’s brutality isn’t veiled. Every blow stings with the sting of reluctant duty, and Anok’s sorrow almost derails the battle. With no way out, Anok takes up the mantle, and Enor’s funeral cements the passing of the old ways, scattering stones and loyalties alike.​

Now chieftain, Anok faces a battered tribe split by bitterness. Some demand a return to the old ways – brute force, no gadgets – while Anok champions innovation and strategy. The rift is physical and philosophical as Paca, the tribe’s loudest throwback, spouts that tools weaken warriors and tradition trumps survival. Anok’s reply: making life easier isn’t cowardice. But the tribe’s faith is fragile, and resistance simmers beneath every attempted compromise.

Hunting scenes drive home the shift in power and priorities. Anok’s methods (traps, teamwork, cunning) draw scorn from purists but prove effective. Tensions boil when a successful hunt fails to impress, and jeering voices claim he hides his weakness behind tools. Anok’s composure is as tested as his leadership, leading to cracks in both confidence and loyalty.

The issue wraps as Anok’s authority is challenged, not with blades but with ideology and intent. Even as he tries rallying the tribe to new ways, old feuds fester. Characters like Paca threaten to drag the community backward, forcing Anok to fight not just for his chieftainship, but for the soul of the tribe itself.

Story

The script never meanders. Every panel pulses with unease and consequence. Robert Kirkman juggles brutal action with sharp dialogue, letting grudges and grief drive the narrative. The pacing is relentless, forcing the reader into every moral corner alongside Anok.

Art

Finch laces each page with texture and fury. Faces are lined with reluctance, pain, and suspicion. There’s never a neutral expression in the bunch. Leoni’s colors are all mud and blood, perfect for a world where nothing comes easy. Battle scenes explode with kinetic detail, and even the quiet moments bruise with emotion.

Characters

Anok’s growth from hesitant healer to embattled chief is jagged and believable, reflecting real trauma without melodrama. Paca, Thul, and the supporting cast avoid caricature. Everyone has a motive, and no loyalty is guaranteed. Bonds fracture, leaders falter, and it feels like any character could splinter at any time.

Positives

What stands out most? The comic’s refusal to sanitize its world – pain, tradition, and change all dig in their nails. Anok’s struggle is painfully nuanced; he never feels invincible, just battered and willing to try. The art matches the script beat for beat, refusing to look away during either violence or vulnerability. Every page thrums with lived-in energy and authenticity.

Negatives

At times the dialogue leans heavy, and some of the tribe’s dissent comes off as slightly repetitive. The pacing smothers subtler moments, and supporting characters, while varied, sometimes shout from the same script. The grim tone rarely relents, risking fatigue if the narrative doesn’t soon break new emotional ground.

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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SKINBREAKER #2 brings the axe down on sophomore slumps, driving its story as hard as its namesake weapon. It’s an unflinching blend of grit, sorrow, and barbed ambition—the kind that leaves a mark, even if you’re just turning the pages.

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