On the Stump #2 is a bonafide winner. The opening dialogue alone where two characters are discussing something called “blue diarrhea” will have you cracking up for certain. Chuck Brown, Prenzy, and everyone else who is remotely responsible for this book deserve a big round of applause. The best thing about On the Stump #2 — besides the incredible artwork — is how it does such a phenomenal job of foreshadowing and setting up future story elements.
The illustrations intertwine brilliantly with the dialogue of the book. A lot is conveyed without actually being said, especially earlier on in the story between characters. Prenzy is good at fleshing out how each character is feeling and it shows on the page. Meanwhile, Brown flawlessly connects three different storylines beautifully.
The grittiness, facial features, detail, and raw emotional connection you feel from the characters while reading it is just something you’ll want to experience over and over again. There are two amazing covers to collect with this issue, the first being done by Prenzy that has sorta of a Rocky meets Action Jackson vibe to it. The second is done by a fantastic artist named Sanford Greene who is also working alongside Chuck Brown on a comic called Bitter Root. Greene’s variant cover is another you’ll want to collect for sure, Greene always boasts some very passionate and memorable image work.
In terms of story, it picks up not too far from where issue #1 left off. Thunder Bearer is still trying to push the effort to get the Slay Act into law and is met with some resistance from his questionable negotiating partners at Nixx Enterprises. One of the other villians you meet in the beginning holds a strong comparison to Dick Jones in Robocop. Other than that, the pacing and transition from one story point to the other is pretty well done.
Overall, On the Stump #2 is an awesome second issue that is so much fun to read. There’s so much this story offers and our main protagonist and antagonist haven’t even crossed paths yet. Do yourself a favor and make sure to support your local comic shops during these troubling times and mail order your copy of On the Stump #2 — you’ll thank me later. The art, the writing, the lettering, and covers are all sensational.
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