Zawa + The Belly of the Beast is one of the most imaginative comics you’ll read all year, and it only gets better with the second issue out this week. Michael Dialynas has crafted an entirely new world centered on a monster that’ll save the people, but why is she chained up, and why does she like cookies so much? Blending cooking, world building, and a misunderstood monster, this series has a lot of charm.
The second issue opens with the villain realizing something has happened to their factory. Drawn over the credits page in a double-page layout, there’s an endearing quality to how Dialynas rendered this opening. The Divine Feast is nearly here, and the beast is nowhere to be found. We soon see Zawa eating trash as she’s starving. Soon, she sees a prayer to her and wishes to destroy everyone. That is until she smells something delicious. It appears the best way to Zawa’s heart is through her stomach.
As the story progresses, we learn more about Bandit and their sister in a short economic scene. Before long, they’ll interact with Zawa in ways that’ll bring a smile to your face. Other great misunderstood stories, like Edward Scissorhands, came to mind while reading this book. It has an endearing quality that’s funny, cute, and a bit sad all at once. Zawa, for instance, hasn’t showered before, or so it seems.
Credit: BOOM! Studios
There’s also more cooking in this issue, with a tasty omelet whipped up with fresh eggs. Complete with a smile like Zawa’s, Dialynas connects the food to the monster in a cute way. The threat looms as the characters get their bearings, and this issue serves as a calm before the storm. The cliffhanger suggests things are going to get serious soon.
I can’t get enough of Dialynas’s letters, which are also great. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re nominated for an Eisner, as they’re creative and fresh.
World building is lighter in this issue, especially since our characters barely leave interior locations. That’s not a huge deal, although the first issue seemed to promise more about the cat with bells in its tail or the larger vista of the city. Some of the wonderment is missing this go around.
Zawa + The Belly of the Beast #2 continues to be a delightful story with an endearing misunderstood monster at its core. An enchanting story about outcasts.
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