Pearl #2
Brian Arbizo
Recap
Pear spends hours drawing to perfecting her artwork. Years ago her Mother aks to see her work. Her mother is impressed so much so she tells her that she will begin her tattoo apprenticeship. Pearl may have gotten a little too excited causing her Mother to resend the invitation.
Rick Araki stands Pearl's studio. Yesterday she saved his life by killing someone, today she is assigned to kill him. As he asks for a date, she repeatedly turns him downs and demands he leaves. After refusing to leave, she asks what clan he belongs to. Like Rick has in the past he avoids the question, he states he does not want to talk about clans. She pleads with him once more, asking him to leave if nothing more out of respect for her to leave and don't come back. He takes a moment, walks towards to door. At the last moment, Pearl asks him not to go.
Years ago, Pearl is tattooing a banana. Her mother appears to enjoy what she is seeing. Kimmy says she would allow Pearl to practice on her. Before Pearl's mother could give an answer Mr. Kai walks into the shop. Mrs. Tanaka hands him an envelope for Mr. Mike. Present time Mr. Kai is now talking to the head of the shop, Pearl. He hands her a list of name. Kimmy asking what the names are for. Pearl asks her to go to the back but like best friends, the request is ignored. Mr. Kai reminds Pearl that Mr. Mike owns her as he owned her parents. After he leaves Kimmy puts two and two together, she realizes it's a hit list.
A flashback: you hear the sounds of the tattoo gun being operated, Pearl's Dad comes through the door. "What's for dinner?" followed by "Have you heard from mom?" Before he was able to answer the flash black ends, and we are brought back to the present. Rick dancing at the club, living in the moment. Pearl walks through the dance floor, stalking her pray until she finds the target, points the gun, and we are left with one last question with this issue to be continued.
Review
99 percent of the time I hate flashbacks in comings especially when the issue is centered back and forth. In most comics, it is completely confusing. They did it especially well. The colors in flashbacks are often lighter in color, the present is much darker in color. They also tell you when we are back to the present. This book is in the one percent. They did it amazing, it was really easy to follow.
What we know so far is Pearl is not a trained assassin but can shoot. Mr. Mike who now owns Pearl as well as he did her family wants her to kill people. We do not know what happen to her parent’s, we don’t know how much she knows about her parent’s life with Mr. Mike. We don’t know if she is going to shoot Rick at the club, or what happen the night she asks Rick to stay. So many questions! It is coming together, I feel each week we get a little more information.
Does Pearl kill Rick, is she even at the same club as he is? I don’t know we have to wait till next month when we get the some of our questions answered.
Final Thoughts
Look, I love this FREAKIN' book. I am obsessed with it. I have so many questions, I want to know everything about everything. It leaves me wanting MORE!
I have to give this book a 10/10. This is my reasoning; I read so many good books, with outstanding writers, great stories each week, but they have not left me so excited for new comic book day like Pearl does. Everyone needs to be reading this.
The story is amazing. The ART is so stellar. The Layouts are astounding. There is nothing that I do not like about this book. There are very few books that I will think about outside of my reading time. I will be at work randomly thinking about a scene from Pearl. That is how I know this book is special.
Pearl #2: Saving a Man, Taking a Bullet for the Man, Now to Kill Him
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10