Bart Hill aka The Death-Defying Devil’s wounds are seemingly healed and he’s ready for…another slice of coffee cake? Writer Gail Simone and artist Walter Geovani knuckle up for a second round of street bashing with their Silent Bob of crime fighting. The residents of the Winslow House are still terrified of their own neighborhood. Will the Devil be able to give them reassurance? Read the latest issue to find out.
The Writing
The book starts with Louisa telling Bart about her glory days as an actress where she was called “The Swan from Milan” (Even though she’s from Sicily). Louisa takes it a step further, telling her perspective on how superheroes made the world feel a lot safer until they went away. She’s dreamed of doing simple things like a trip to the grocery store, but the evolution of crime has diminished that dream for her. This prompts the Devil to take her on a trip to the store despite the thugs waiting outside.
Simone does a good job of using the people of the Winslow House as motivation to get the Devil back into his old roots as a superhero. While the storyline gets a little confusing during the second half of the book, the Devil proves he is more than ready to help take the neighborhood back from the thugs that have infested it. For the most part, the plot stays focused, entertaining, and engaging for the reader.
The Art
Geovani’s artwork still keeps its ’90s film vibe and offers some kickass moments that take place in a supermarket for the most part. He does a superb job with his pencil work, calling back to old school westerns and transitioning the story quite nicely. One of my favorite pages from this issue involves a horse on fire that looks like something out of a Ghost Rider comic.
The Verdict
Overall, The Death-Defying Devil #2 is a fairly solid continuation and still worth checking out. The illustrations are on point and the dialogue delivery is perfect. The last half of the book had me a little confused, but I understood enough to want to read issue #3. Make sure to check it out the next time you’re in your local comic shop.
