‘Adventureman #2’ (review)

Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Terry Dodson
Published by Image Comics

I truly enjoyed the first issue of this series. Writer Matt Fraction and artist Terry Dodson hit upon a really great concept with this book. They are also using that concept even better in this issue. This issue  is actually another really great issue and it builds upon what has already been established quite well.

The story starts off much like the first issue did. Except the difference is that this time, Tommy is reading to his mother, Claire. He is reading to her another fantastic story about the life of Adventureman. This time, the story has Baron Bizarre taking the heroine Phaedra Phantom hostage! That is when Tommy notices something a bit amiss in the comic itself.

For the first time ever, the comic has Adventureman’s actual address.

Tommy starts to wonder if perhaps Adventureman himself has written this comic he had in his hands. The question then becomes: is Adventureman actually real?

The story here is very playful with the way the creative team answers this question.

From this point, the mystery deepens even more. We start to see some backstory on Claire. We see the job that she had before working in her mother’s used book store.

We also get to see how it ties into the current story as a whole. It is well done.

Matt Fraction does a commendable job writing this. He makes Claire a wonderful lead with flaws. Her character is very believable and all of the other characters are compelling as well. The art by Terry Dodson continues to be the best work of his career.

This is a fine book and it is accessible to anyone looking to read something wholly original.

RATING: A