Barnstormers #2: The New Standard

Barnstormers #2 is the penultimate issue in the high flying crime-romance from artist Tula Lotay and writer Scott Snyder. Unlike Snyder’s previous ventures into science fiction, Barnstormers is a drama set in the real world, with the focus on the characters and their relationship more so than the world around them. This issue picks up with a small time jump, showing the blossoming relationship between Bix and Tillie as they strive to perfect the art of Barnstorming while they travel across America. These extra sized issues are practically a two-in-one, with Barnstormers #2 being split in half via a definitive break in the narrative, allowing this to be read across two sittings if so desired.

Tula Lotay’s art carries this series in a wonderful way, giving every page and panel a high art feeling, almost as if she is drawing pieces for a museum. The main focus is on the characters, with Lotay breathing a lot of life into the touching interactions. The highlight of the art here has to be the high flying Barnstorming panels, where Lotay lets loose, conveying the controlled chaos in the air as Bix and Tillie fly just below the clouds. There are enough comics out there that depict action in the sky, but the way Lotay keeps the center focus on the characters, as Tillie attempts to walk all the way to the edge of the wing, makes these segments almost feel cinematic in nature. This is also in great juxtaposition to the softer moments, where it becomes apparent that Tillie’s eagerness to walk all the way to the wing is representative of her desire to fully embrace the free and happy life she has suddenly built with Bix. 

Plot-wise, Lotay and Snyder continue with the narrative surrounding the authorities and Tillie’s ex hunting down Tillie and Bix. This also ties into the dramatic reveal of the first issue that Bix was an escapee from a mental asylum, and that he may be more of a danger than they realize. Ultimately this plot coalesces in the reveal that Bix was only in the asylum after he was electrocuted by a sign, causing him to see the robot within the sign at random times when he is stressed. This ties back into this series’ theme about perception, and judging what we do not understand. Bix is consistently judged as a kidnapper, crazy man, and killer, when these are only identities that society has created for him through misconceptions and misunderstandings. By and large, this is one of the more intriguing plot threads to follow and it will be interesting to see where Bix ends up at the end of things.

Series like this often create a rise in speculation as to if they will be adapted for the big screen. The case for and against that can be made in spades here, with there definitely being a thoughtful and romantic story that audiences would love to see play out beyond the page. The biggest caveat against this is the idea that a motion picture adaptation would miss out on the fabulous art from Lotay, which gives this series all of its flair and nuance. This story on paper would work well as a film, but imagining Barnstormers without Lotay’s art is like imagining pizza without sauce, it still would work but not achieve any of the heights that this series has.