THE BOX #2 – Review

In THE BOX #2, available from Red 5 Comics on September 22nd, 2021, the mob is closing in on Leo, but the powers that be decide the best way to get the box is to go through Claire in prison.

The Details

• Written By: Joshua Starnes
• Art By: Raymond Estrada
• Colors By: Steven Dellastalla
• Letters By: Dave Lanphear
• Cover Art By: Raymond Estrada
• Cover Price: $3.95
• Release Date: September 22, 2021

Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.

Was It Good?

The story is good. The art, however, gets in the way. Let’s get into it.

At this stage of the story, we’re getting teased about the modern history of the box, its prior owner(s), and brief glimpses into the broader extent of its power. The box can do, by any human understanding, anything. Teleportation, creation, weapons, energy, all of it. What it can’t do is explicitly grant every request of the one who possesses it unless the situation calls for it. In effect, the box appears to have its own code of conduct that Leo can only figure out through trial, error, and happenstance.

I like the way the mystery of the box is revealed in drips and drabs. Normally, drips and drabs can be frustrating, but it makes sense here because Leo is also frustrated, so it fits the story. Empathy allows Leo to take on your frustration for you, and that’s a hallmark of good writing when you can accept a negative feeling as necessary for the story.

Another good example of writing in this issue is the completeness of this chapter. While this is an ongoing mini, you still feel like this chapter has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The ending rearranges both Claire and Leo in a new place for whatever comes next, and the stakes are significantly raised with a deadly mob hunting them both.

The art is hit and miss in this issue. Estrada’s art style is gritty, grounded, and moody with thick heavy lines and deep shadows that project a serious tone on every panel. However, there’s a fine line (no pun intended) between gritty, heavy lines and smudged, sloppy lines. There are several panels where the lines are so thick and indistinct that you easily lose track of who is who in a panel with multiple characters. There’s a “teleportation” scene in the opening scene of the book that was so roughly drawn it took several repeat readings to figure out what just happened.

To be fair, the art’s not all bad, but highly stylized art can get away from you without moderation. It definitely got away from the artist in this issue.

What’s It About?

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

Close your eyes. Make a wish. Then, go back and read our The Box #1 review to get caught up.

We begin with the old man and his armed goons cornering Leo in an apartment. After a brief fight, the box “teleports” Leo to another floor of the building, turning the standoff into a chase.

Later, Leo holds up in a motel where he replays the magical workings of the box over the last day to start to piece together its “rules” of operation. When he tries to throw it away, he sees all the possible (and horrible) outcomes, so he appears to be stuck with it for now. Knowing he’s off the grid, Leo realizes the mob may try to get to him through Claire in jail.

Leo “teleports” into Clarie’s cell to bring her up to speed and scare the booger-snot out of her crazy cellmate. They both agree that either the cops or the mob will be coming for her, and she needs to be ready.

We conclude the issue in the last act with Claire taking an unwanted field trip that leads to a dead-end, the box showcasing a new power, and Leo trying the old “bait and switch” tactic.

Final Thoughts

THE BOX #2 raises the stakes with a deadly mob and the box’s previous owner coming for Leo and Claire. You can feel the tension and the actual threat of danger in every scene, and the story makes a respectable amount of progress toward setting up the next chapter. That said, the art was a down point for being just sloppy enough to muddle the visuals and create confusion about what’s going on in-panel.

Score: 7/10