Stumptown, Volume 2, #2 – Review

By: Greg Rucka (writer), Matthew Southworth (art), Rico Renzi (colors)

The Story: Dex Parrios gets closer to a lost guitar and uncovers some more serious criminal activity.

Quick Review: How fussy are you about art?  Can you get “knocked out of the story” by a few little art problems?  If so, you might want to give Stumptown a pass because this is two issues in a row where the art just isn’t getting it done.  That’s really surprising because the art on the first volume of Stumptown was so strong (solid, precise and blessed with moments of inspiration).

WCBR’s Picks Of The Week

Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Unknown Soldier #15 – It’s amazing what a change in colorist and art-style can do.  The book has gone from looking rough, and at times, crude, to being an artbook with beautiful shading and an awesome, dusty feel.  The murder-mystery turn the book has taken also points to good things coming with this arc, while Moses continues to struggle with the idea of redemption, as well as his oddly parallel relationship with young Paul.  This was probably my favourite issue of Unknown Soldier since the series’ first arc.

Most Anticipated: Stumptown #2 – I’ve been forced to wait an extra month, and that’s only made me want this second issue all the more.  Stumptown is basically Greg Rucka doing what Greg Rucka does best, combining gritty detective fiction, Sean Phillips-esque art, and one of the coolest and most human female protagonists you can find in comics today.  This looks to be a great series and is an absolute must-read for fans of Brubaker’s Criminal or Rucka’s current run on Detective Comics.

Other Picks: Siege #1, Sweet Tooth #5, Suicide Squad #67

DS’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Blackest Night #6 – Only Blackest Night came out from DC last week, but even at that, it would have topped my list for the last 2 weeks. Awesome blockbuster story, getting deeper as it goes. I’m going to be really sad when it’s done.

Most Anticipated: Siege #1 – Norman Obsorn and the villains of the Marvel U against Asgard!

Other Top Picks: The Uranian #1 (wait for a nerd-out moment if I review this one!), Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2, Red Robin #8, Superman: World of New Krypton #11.

Ray’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Blackest Night #6 –  Other than being the only book in my list to come out, the epic event continues.

Most Anticipated: Sweet Tooth #5 – Jeff Lemire’s haunting tale concludes its first arc. At this point, nothing has been predictable, and every issue hasn’t disappointed.

Other Top Picks: Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2, The Uranian #1, Red Robin #8, Siege #1