Join the Future #2: Every One of ‘Em Will Pay

It’s taken me quite a few days to come to terms with the revelations in Join the Future #2. The first issue brought such newfound exploration and a potential for something dark in the horizon, but never did I think it would take such a dark turn so quickly. It’s a remarkable follow up and succeeds on more than one level, but most importantly, it will certainly have you coming back for more.

We’ve covered a lot of the worldbuilding attributes such as the duality between both modern and traditional lifestyles and belief systems as well as the context of how growing up in that type of separated world might impact Clementine Libbey, but Join the Future #2 quickly pushes the series into a new direction. Tragedy strikes with the loss of Clem’s family and it’s really not something you would expect to see in the second issue. The timing does wonders to maintain momentum and keep you on the edge of your seat.

It’s difficult to talk about this series without bringing back memories of The Walking Dead and the devotion to character drama within a tragic world. Clementine’s journey has already been such a wild experience within two issues, it’s difficult to think how long it can keep this up but I’ll be sticking around to see. Pitting Clem up against such an overwhelming force lays the foundation for a series that can really go far.

This issue, much like the first, doesn’t forget to pack a punch visually as well. There are grand pages that build this magnificent world but never lose sight of the character focus, especially with Clem. From the massive “terraforming” technology to the six shooter Clem retrieves from her Pa, the artwork brings just the right flair to every panel, especially with Otsmane-Elhaou s concise leterring. Even some panels you might not expect will surprise you, such as when the team captures her asthma routine using her inhaler. It’s these moments that make you actually care about what’s going on.

Join the Future is a series that feels both uniquely relevant and timeless in a way you don’t really see often. There is a coming of age story coming to fruition within an exploration of much grander societal shifts, and issue #2 delivers on all of these fronts. From drama to action and even a mysterious new potential mentor, this is a well executed issue that is undoubtedly worth your money.