IDW’s new in-continuity series (no seriously, for real this time) The X-Files debuts its second issue this month. Is it good?
The X-Files #2 (IDW Publishing)
Observations
- Wait, so we’re not following up on that bizarre/potentially very cool plot from the first issue? Okay then…
- There sure is a lot of talking going on for an opening scene where we basically know what’s coming.
- Lots more talking, but at least most of it is good dialogue between Mulder and Scully.
- Those monsters are going to show up any minute now…
- Any minute…
- Seriously?
Is It Good?
Okay, I love good prose/dialogue as much as anyone, but this was a bit ridiculous.
Despite my snark about the issue’s opening, it does manage to establish a solid atmosphere. Unfortunately, the rest of the issue is spent talking in circles about the fact that something weird and bad happened, which we already kind of guessed.
There’s some cool background info on the culture behind the narrative, but it’s not backed up with much action. That’s a real shame, too, because Matthew Dow Smith’s art looks really good. Thankfully, the expressions and body language he provides to the characters give the story a small bit of forward momentum. Otherwise, this one is a bit of a snoozer. Still plenty of potential to be good, but if this was the show, they would need to start wooing me back from the computer soon.
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