Review: Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #2
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer:Â Mark Russell
Art: Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk
Colors:Â Andy Troy
Letters:Â Rob Steen
Reviewed by:Â Tony Farina
Summary
Chaos, weirdness, and corndogs reign when Jesus innocently stumbles into Bible Safari, a profit-squeezing amusement park that trades in his image. Meanwhile, Sunstar gets some disturbing news about his earthly foster-grandmother. Later, Jesus stands to recruit a new disciple – if he can inspire said disciple to keep on living! Also featuring illustrated bonus stories in the AHOY tradition.
Positives
Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #2 features two artists who are throwing darts and hitting triple 20s every time (I know you expected me to write bullseye, but the triple 20 is the most valuable spot on the board. You are thinking about archery). Pace and Kirk each handle different aspects of this story and it works so well. I have read plenty of comics where the two artists clash. There is none of that here. There panels and pages make for a more complete and complex story.
Of course, what would a Mark Russell book be without scathing satire? It wouldn’t be a Mark Russell book. The panel below features the Faith Pistol that can be yours for three easy payments. “Every bullet has been blessed for additional accuracy.” How long do you think it will be before we actually see this? I live in Florida. I suspect it is already a thing. Also, take a look at the callback to Russell’s excellent run on Flintstones. It is just a nice Easter Egg for the Russell heads out there.
Negatives
Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #2 is going to make a lot of people mad and make even more uncomfortable. I am not one of those people so I have no problem with it. However, if you are easily offended by someone who has actually read the book you claim to worship or if you think fun is overrated, this book is not for you.
Verdict
Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #2 is everything one can expect from this team. Visual puns, real emotional punches, stunning art and milk out the nose humor. If you are not buying this, you clearly want to risk your eternal soul. Why risk it? Go buy this.
