Roku #2 (of 4): My Humanity is Gone Forever

Roku #2 pushes the relentless character in an unfamiliar direction with a child that knows more than she ever should and is forced to confront more lethal enemies than maybe even the ultimate killer can even handle. The result?

One badass book.

Everything about Roku #2 delivers exactly what you would expect from a book featuring this seemingly cold-hearted character. It has a lot of violent action, a dangerous mystery and an origin that feels worth exploring. Comics veteran Cullen Bunn has a keen understanding on how to plot out an interesting story and we see that in action here. The second issue of the series builds on the overarching story by fleshing out the mystery a bit more, but it also brings us a new villain for the Valiant Universe: the Minister of Blades! He’s super cool, that much is for certain and a particularly dangerous foe for Roku with his ability to control essentially any stabbing weapon. Hopefully we see more of him in the future!

The artwork spearheaded by Ramon F. Bachs hits its stride in Roku #2, staying consistent to the aesthetic created in the first issue while having fun with the new villain. Where most series would cut away when the violence hits, this one shows all of it, from people’s legs sliced off at the knees to being stuck in the forehead with a ninja star. The issue isn’t reliant on this, but it’s nice to see the willingness to capture just how deadly Roku really is.

Is Roku #2 a perfect book? Definitely not. There are certain problems that carry over from the first issue such as lackluster background work, but they aren’t enough to detract from how exciting it is. I’ve said it before, but Valiant brings such a thrilling approach to their universe, when we get series like Roku it’s hard not to wonder at both it’s accessibility and complexity.

While the MI-6 references were certainly welcome, I would like to see this begin to tie closer to the Valiant universe, but we will just have to wait and see. Now that we’ve reached the halfway point, I can already say I’ll be adding this trade to my collection when it hits! It’s a blood good time, so pick up your copy now and check it out!