The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage #2 Review

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Denys CowanInks: Bill Sienkiewicz
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Willie Schubert
Cover Price: $6.99
Release Date: 1/15/2020

Review by Fanboy Clay

Vic Sage, the man of many questions. The Question. Spun into a past that holds too many questions for those who have no idea what Jeff Lemire is attempting to say in this book. The Question: The Death of Vic Sage, is quite possibly the only book I can subjectively say, don’t judge this book by its amazing cover. It looks beautiful, filled with jumbled ideas and convoluted storytelling.
 

At the end of the first issue, Vic Sage reunites with the man that taught him everything and sends him spiraling into what inevitably ends up being the 1800’s. Well, so it seems. Jeff Lemire had me hooked with the first issue, it was political, it was odd, but it had a hook that left me wanting to learn how and why Vic was in the past. Issue two picks up some threads from the first, like following the possible story that “The Question” has a past outside of Vic Sage’s life. Almost making its history equivalent to Hawkman & Hawkwoman. But in the midst of all the “The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly” western mood, we see the ending of issue one was in the middle of issue two. And clearly does not connect in the slightest in regards to how he got to “the past”.

This ultimately ends with Vic gunslinging through the town to stop the threat of a deranged priest and his followers. Vic is lead to an old mining cave where he finds the same tomb of skeletons as seen in the modern Hub City in issue one. The real threat of the series reveals himself here as he shoots Vic in the head. And lo and behold, it was all a dream, or in hindsight, Lemire is wanting us to think “Or was it?” 

Nevertheless, Lemire had a great start but has fumbled the ball already. Too many of these story pieces are scattered in a way that leaves me uninterested to follow the breadcrumbs for more than one more issue. If Lemire is able to do some great thread work in issue three he may have my attention for his last issue, but if not, I’m completely okay with letting go of an issue that will most likely leave me unsatisfied. 

Bits and Pieces:

Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Chris Sotomayor really steer this issue. They set the tone for what should be a great series. If you can’t enjoy the story, at least we have a great artbook. And also, out of all the names Vic Sage could have made for himself “living in the past” he chooses Victor Szasz? Clearly, the man has never seen Back to the Future.

6.5/10