STEALTH HAMMER #2, from Ryan Drost on Kickstarter, begins to unveil the secrets behind Jami’s history with the help of an impatient elf destined to help Jami meet the goddess with all the answers.
The Details
- Written by: Ryan Drost
- Art by: Joel Jackson
- Colors by: Luis Antonio Delgado, Christopher Sotomayor
- Letters by: Dave Sharpe
- Cover art by: Joel Jackson
- Cover price: $5.00
- Release date: June 2022 (estimated)
Is It Good?
STEALTH HAMMER #2 takes the sharp, appealing art and the wild supernatural shenanigans from the first issue and settles into a setup issue that takes a breath from the action to answer questions and lay the foundation for the adventure to come. Less action and plot movement may sound like a down point, but here it works as a better comic that grounds readers in Drost’s world and creates necessary motivation for all the players.
The high point of this issue is the high-quality manner in which Drost tells you all the history of Jami’s family and lays out the stakes of the coming conflict without resorting to tedious exposition. To be clear, there’s plenty of exposition, but it’s relayed through conversation and well-placed visuals in a fully organic way. This issue delivers a ton of information, and Drost executes the delivery naturally with solid pacing and natural dialog.
Drost’s plot is effectively a setup issue. You learn much about Jami’s family history, you learn who’s after her uncle, and the next steps of the adventure are laid out clearly. In short, the playing pieces are moved into position before the real adventure gets started. Every bit of the setup is necessary, so you don’t feel like your time is wasted.
Jackson’s art is a perfect partner for the spirit and tone of Drost’s script. The characters are colorful and memorable with a slightly cartoonish edge to appeal to younger readers, and the coloring work by Sotomayor and Delgado is excellent, particularly in contour shading.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our STEALTH HAMMER #1 review to find out how Jami gained her powers.
We begin with Gerome Hunts receiving a visit from his henchmen who attacked Jami’s family home. Szhansi the shapeshifter turns over the data files, but Hunts is disappointed that the police arrested Jami’s uncle before Szhansi could kidnap him. In his rage, Hunts orders the henchmen to retrieve Jami’s uncle.
Meanwhile, Jami and her father work to repair the lab and update tools they may need for protection when Ari the elf arrives with an important message. Ari explains the role of the goddess Aurora as protector against evil and that Jami’s family is needed for the coming conflict against Jormungund and the Great Darkness. Jami’s father explains how powers and abilities have always manifested in her family, and her powers may have emerged to face this great threat.
We conclude the issue with cool gadgets, warm kisses, and a road trip.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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STEALTH HAMMER #2 is the best possible way to do a setup issue wherein readers are shown as much as told the backstory, the present threat, and prepared for the conflict to come. The plotting, pacing, and dialog are executed masterfully, and the art is a perfect pair for this story.
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