Savage #2: Weird Science

Savage #1 was a radical departure from what anyone expected and Max Bemis and the Savage crew killed it. Savage #2 however is where we see these strange seeds begin to bear fruit, new villain Professor Hanley Nealon is a great addition to the Valiant landscape. Sure he’s a bit hokey and weird like a Bond villain but he’s also got just enough grit to make him a plausible threat. He also the means by which we meet Savage’s potential love interest Mae, a fiery redhead who’s intelligence and gusto make her as noteworthy as Savage and his athletic monster killing prowess. The pair come across like a mix of Lucy and Ricky (I Love Lucy versions but maybe with a dash of TPB throw in) meets Tarzan and Jane, which in itself has plenty of potential.

Although Bemis leans more towards humor than even the first issue, the pacing and dynamic art balance things out just right to keep a sense of gravitas. I can’t stress the importance of the art here enough Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou for example absolutely slays making the lettering more than just a standard part of comics but almost a character in itself. Triona Farrell is all over the color design whether she’s tackling Savage escaping a pit or mutant monsters there’s not a wasted dash of color to be seen. Then man oh man can we take a second and just really appreciate how well Nate Stockman captures everything we need in this issue? From brutal action to cool displays of acrobatics to just two people having a conversation, Stockman is firing on all cylinders making every page a treat to examine.

In an age where there’s dozens of comedic books trying and usually failing to perfectly balance the flavors of action and humor in one meal, Savage #2 is making sure everyone gets well fed with primo stuff.