In YUKI VS. PANDA #2, available from Source Point Press on June 30th, 2021, Yuki begins a new phase of life and new training as she starts her freshmen year in High School. Meanwhile, Panda struggles with life outside the zoo as fate draws him toward the ultimate conflict.
The Details
- Written By: Graham Misiurak
- Art By: A.L. Jones
- Letters By: A.L. Jones
- Cover Art By: A.L. Jones
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: June 30, 2021
Was It Good?
It was quick.
It’s a quick read, which means the writing has a decent pace, the page turns are good, and you get the point of each scene without a lot of reading. That said, there’s not a lot of plot development, and the story is compressed into effectively one scene with Yuki and a montage that fleshes out some of Panda’s character.
The character development you get for Panda is good. In a very loose way, the montage builds a sort of hero’s journey, although it’s too early to tell if Panda is the hero or the villain of this story.
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There’s not much development or progress for Yuki but you do get some fleshing out of her supporting friends and the setup of Yuki’s goal for the coming school year. It’s all encapsulated in one scene that takes up the first half of the book containing mostly talking, some laughs, and a little bit of Sifu slapstick.
The art is a pleasant mix of cartoonish and manga styles. Mostly Western with a mild Eastern influence. This is a visually appealing book.
You can see the influences for yourself in our YUKI VS. PANDA #2 preview.
Overall, it’s a decent continuation of the first issue, which was effectively an extended prologue. That said, the story is a little thin on plot, so we’re hoping to see a little more meat in issue #3.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with an extended scene between Bernard and Madisin, two of Yuki’s friends, as they discuss random topics, that is until they get to the main subject — today is the day Yuki starts training for the school Olympics.
Eventually, Yuki meets up with them on the way to school carrying a massive backpack her grandfather makes her carry as part of her training. Misiurak does a fine job developing a friendship among the trio, highlighting their knowledge of each other’s likes and dislikes and their shared willingness to help Yuki succeed in the Olympics.
When Yuki’s friends see how badly she struggles with the backpack, they begin to suggest ways she can get rid of it during the day so her grandfather won’t know. Suddenly, her grandfather pops out of the backpack to squash any corner-cutting and coach Yuki, drill sergeant style, to continue moving.
Cut to Panda hiding in alleys and scrounging for food in dumpsters. He reflects on the struggles and challenges he’s endured since he was a cub… since Yuki took a bit out of his ear. The incident not only scarred him physically, but it fuels him to survive and surpass every challenge.
You can see how Panda’s trauma gave birth to a world-ending conflict in our YUKI VS. PANDA #1 review.
Since escaping the zoo, Panda has taken an assortment of odd jobs to get by. Sometimes, he’s a field hand, a telemarketer, a hot dog vendor, or even a thief. Every job, no matter how degrading, pushes him toward the fate awaiting him. At times, Panda loses hope when he recognizes some of the terrible things he’s done to survive. But as he says in his own word: “I will have my pound of flesh!”
We conclude the issue with a close encounter.
How Does It End?
Panda will learn everything happens for a reason. Yuki kept her backpack on for an entire day. Paths almost cross.
Final Thoughts
YUKI VS. PANDA #2 is filled with colorful, enjoyable art and some strong moments of character development. That said, the plot development is a little thin and needs to make more significant progress in the next issue.
Score: 7.5/10
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