UNDER THE INFLUENCE #2 – Comic Review

UNDER THE INFLUENCE #2, from Mad Cave Studios on 8/16/23, almost gets Agent Cole’s cover blown when a surprise shooting sends suspicions among the Hot Dog Party into overdrive.

The Details

• Written by: Eliot Rahal
• Art by: Stefano Simeone
• Colors by: Stefano Simeone
• Letters by: Frank Cvetkovic
• Cover art by: Stefano Simeone
• Comic Rating: Mature
• Cover price: $4.99
• Release date: August 16, 2023

Is It Good?

Few situations threaten an undercover operation more than an accidental shooting, but that’s exactly the dilemma Agent Cole faces in UNDER THE INFLUENCE #2 by Eliot Rahal. Despite the big bang start, Rahal uses the issue to inform Agent Cole (and the readers) about the modern mechanics of the Influencer Industry for an informative but subdued read.

When last we left Agent Cole, she made personal contact with Paul Kozac, who already knew she was an undercover agent and wanted help to escape his current predicament. Paul’s pleas suggested his influence had grown beyond his control, possibly due to a dark, unseen force. Now, Agent Cole’s questioning of Paul is disrupted by a violent interruption at the party, leading to quick thinking, misdirection, and a killer cliffhanger.

What’s great about this comic? Rahal’s organic lessons about the mechanics of becoming an Influencer are very informative, and Agent Cole’s quick thinking is a clever way to turn the negative of the shooting into a positive that earns her credibility with the Hot Dog Party (cult?). In other words, Rahal makes a number of smart moves that illuminate the real-world business of being an Influencer within the context of an intriguing mystery.

What’s not so great about this comic? The information dump about what it takes to be an Influencer is informative but not very engaging as a story. Readers will feel educated more than entertained, and the info dump comes at the expense of pacing and engagement. Thankfully, the cliffhanger brings readers back to the mystery of whether or not the “movement” is an actual cult, but the comic feels like it drags in the middle.

How’s the art? Stefano Simeone’s art style lacks detail in the wider panels, but what Simeone lacks in detail and clean line work, he makes up for in energetic acting and cinematic panel compositions. Simeone turns up the dial on the dramatic tension through the scenery and the strong emotional expressions of the characters.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.

What’s It About?

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

Check out our UNDER THE INFLUENCE #1 review to find out how Agent Cole was placed on a morally ambiguous assignment.

We begin in the middle of the increasingly frantic conversation between Paul and Agent Cole. Paul claims he needs help getting out of the situation which grew too big for him to control. Agent Cole isn’t sure what Paul means, but before Paul can give specifics, a gunshot interrupts the talk. Agent Cole races outside to find her partner, Russo, shot one of the partygoers.

Thinking fast, Agent Cole screams for the police, hoping her actions mimic any other concerned T.A. and maintain her cover. The move worked, and Agent Cole uses her time at the police station to remove Russo from the case and gain more latitude in how she works the investigation.

Later, Paul and the Hot Dog Party members visit the shot student in the hospital with Agent Cole. We conclude the issue with scary dreams, an informative meal, and “something cool.”

Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.

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