Extremity Vol. 2: Warrior Review

Generation X-tremity

Written by: Daniel Warren Johnson
Art by: Daniel Warren Johnson
Colors by: Mike Spicer
Letters by: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics
Reviewed by: Andrew McAvoy


The first volume of Daniel Warren Johnson's tale of a feuding post-apocalyptic world was very much the story of war between two tribes, the Roto and the Panzina. More specifically it gave us a tale of a revenge mission on the part of the Roto against the Panzina. The story told of how the leader of the Roto, Abba, lost his wife, and saw his daughter lose a hand as a result of cruel attacks from the Panzina. Volume 1 was the tale of how Abba, his daughter Thea and son Rollo conducted a subsequent revenge mission. This volume, collecting issues 7-12 of the series, provides us with the continuation of that mission.

The complexity comes in this volume as it delves into the background of a sizable third group which rests in hiding in this fictional universe. As Thea and Rollo spend time in this group's dark lands, they learn the values of peacemaking and how to break the cycle of violence. The book tells the tale of how a new generation can move on from violence, the different forms of bravery and importantly in such a bleak heavy metal sci-fi series, a third path that can be taken through creativity and love. This might sound a bit sentimental, so I'll briefly add that there is a hell of a lot of bloody violence in this book and it is action packed. That action is purposeful though and underpins the book's wider message of the futility of conflict.

This second volume purports to close off the story of Extremity and that is something that makes me quite sad. On one hand, it closes the story off very well, and it came to a natural conclusion. On the other, I think that this is a series that could have had a considerable length to it, and which really could have explored many story points beyond those handled so well in the issues produced.

The storytelling and art from Daniel Warren Johnson are complimented wonderfully by the colors of Mike Spicer and this is a book that is visually attractive and full of interesting commentary, particularly in several elements that stress the function of art within a civilization. In doing so it practices what it preaches, Johnson's art is so sensitive and expressive that it conveys as much as his words in this volume.

Bits and Pieces

This second volume of Extremity is just as captivating as the first volume and actually surpasses the achievements of that first half. This is a more complex story, and the push and pull of the characters' motives and sympathies is much more interesting here. A fitting close to the series, even if it leaves you dying for more tales set within this wonderful universe.

8.3/10