Oblivion Song #2 Review

Rescue Me

Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Lorenzo de Felici and Annalisa Leoni
Publisher: Image Comics
Reviewed by: Andrew McAvoy                  


The first issue of Oblivion Song was a strong one. We also know that there are 13 issues of this book banked and in the pipeline so this second installment comes within a process of some considerable planning on behalf of Kirkman and de Felici. Let's see how it was.

This issue was a slow burner which had as its focus the consequences of Nathan's rescue exploits in Oblivion. The couple that he rescued in issue 1 is becoming acclimatized to life outside the Oblivion zone and begin to reveal that there are a large number of survivors on the other side who remain to be rescued. Nathan's interest is piqued further when he discovers that a survivor with the same name as his brother is among them.

Elsewhere there is less enthusiasm. His approach to an old colleague whom he attempts to persuade to join back up on a rescue mission has the same vibe as Clint Eastwood's initial approach to Morgan Freeman in the Unforgiven (i.e. it isn't welcomed by him, and even less so by his wife). Likewise, there is a general lack of enthusiasm for any kind of resurgence in Government funded rescue efforts despite Nathan's best efforts.

Throughout the art is very stylised, but I'm afraid it just doesn't work any magic on me. I think the art is consistent in its style, but it doesn't have any spark for me and comes across as fairly perfunctory. Likewise, the colors are pretty flat, and I can't help but feel that a different art style and more dynamic colors would have sat better with what is a pretty compelling storyline.

Bits and Pieces

The story continues to intrigue me, but the style of art is failing to win me over in this series. Sorry if that borders on sacrilege but to me, the story and art aren't compatible in the context of this story. There is a decent enough book here, albeit one that I haven't fallen in love with yet.

7/10