UNBORN #2 – Review

In UNBORN #2, available from Source Point Press on October 27th, 2021, the horrific result of an alien bug sting turns a member of the crew into a mindless monster, pushing the crew to take extreme measures to stop further infections.

The Details

• Written By: Frank Gogol
• Art By: Ev Cantada
• Colors By: Ev Cantada
• Letters By: Sean Rinehart
• Cover Art By: Maan House (cover A)
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: October 27, 2021

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Was It Good?

It’s not bad if you’re willing to overlook some rough spots. This issue is a mix of action and character building through a lot of backstory. While the backstory information is somewhat engaging it shifts energy away from the problem at hand and severely affects the pace of the story.

The crux of the plot revolves around the traumatic upbringing of two characters and how they were able to develop a bond that plays a part in the alien attack on their ship. The background stories are told well, and it helps readers understand the depth of their respective traumas in a more meaningful way. However, when you consider how the relationship plays out in the current conflict, you can’t help but wonder if any of that backstory was necessary. In truth, no. None of the backstory was necessary because you don’t see how their relationship unfolds after they first meet. You feel for them as individuals, but you’re supposed to feel for them as a couple, and you don’t see that relationship beyond a few brief moments in the present.

The backstory components dovetail into the current conflict as Timber, now turned into a raging monster, is confronted by the team. When difficult choices are made, the team then has to find the bug that infected Timber before it gets anyone else. It’s a classic alien bug hunt with unmistakable echoes of Alien (1979). The bug hunt is tense and exciting, the crew’s actions and reactions are realistic, and it’s a well-executed horror sequence.

The art crew makes a wise choice by keeping the lines clean and the aesthetics simple, with the lion’s share of the details focused on the use of color shading and textures. That helps the reader’s eye not get bogged down in the tech and makes sure all focus is on the characters and their actions. This is the best possible way of doing a credible sci-fi story when the story is heavy on the “fi and less on the “sci”.

What’s It About?

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

If you’re wondering where all these bugs came from, read our UNBORN #1 review first.

We begin with side-by-side montages of two crew members, Rose and Riley. Each dealt with traumatic upbringings. Rose – the pain of not feeling accepted after coming out as trans. Riley – the pain of witnessing his brother murdered by an abusive father. Years later, the two meet in a bar and developed a relationship.

Now, Timber has been resurrected after the alien sting into some kind of hulking rage monster. The crew tries to restrain him but Timber is too strong. Riley, more pacifist than security zealot, tries to talk Timber down, but any glimpses of recognition are drowned out by animalistic aggression and the crew is forced to put timber down.

Later, Mia mourns Timber’s loss but is determined to find the bug before it stings anyone else. The crew suits up in tactical gear and begins a proper bug hunt to catch the speedy critter. We conclude the issue with Rose and Riley making promises to each other, Rose and Riley following through on their promise, and a small problem turning into a much bigger problem.

Final Thoughts

UNBORN #2 explores how the trauma and pain of the past can lead two damaged people to find each other and how their bonds guide their choices under an alien attack. That said, the engaging backstory, while interesting, is largely irrelevant to the conflict at hand, and it steals energy and focus away from the unfolding alien threat.

Score: 7/10

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