Lady Killer #2 (of 5)
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer(s): Joëlle Jones & Jamie S. Rich
Artist: Joëlle Jones & Laura Allred
Cover: Joëlle Jones & Laura Allred
Picking up immediately where we left off in the last issue as Josie Schuller is zeroing in on her next target in the Kitty Kat Club. This situation is pretty easy for her to manipulate as he’s more focused on the women and liquor while trying to have a good time. So after another task is completed you’d think that things would be fine, however, she’s been asked to take a meeting with her boss who sees things differently. And a meeting with Mr. Stenholm isn’t one to be taken lightly.
With this issue we’re given a little more information regarding Josie and her position with the company. Most of it takes place during the very tense meeting where we find out that she has been at this for over a decade as well. This is a great moment that helps to flesh out the character but at the same time it also might have you questioning her mode of attack earlier when she’s got all of this experience under her belt. There’s also a subtle hint of danger as she sits with Stenholm and you’re just not too sure how far the writing team is going to take his veiled threats to Josie in this moment.
This issue’s visuals are just as stunning as the last and even excel in some areas. The fight in the coat room is just a brutal sequence where Jones says a lot about Josie through her physical depiction. During her fight last issue Josie still had some pretty soft features but here she’s up against an opponent that is male and has almost 200 lbs on her. So, during the confrontation we see that Josie is seriously in shape as Jones focuses on muscles and definition as she gives the fight all she’s got. This gives her a look that is more like an Amazon warrior than a housewife and it helps give the entire sequence more weight. From there we still get the great background settings and emotions from the characters that really help expand the narrative. Especially the last few panels that might hint that everything might not be all that great in the Schuller household. Allred’s colors continue to be fascinating along with what she chooses to draw your eyes to in certain panels. And yes, that was a pregnant woman smoking. It was a different time folks.
This is still a title worth making room for on your pull list or even just preordering the rest of the series if you’re so inclined. Lady Killer delivers an exciting multi-layered story with knockout visuals from start to finish! So do yourself a favor and give it a try.
Infinite Speech
infinitespeech@comicattack.net
