Skinbreaker #2 doesn’t waste any time picking up where the debut issue left off, as orc warrior Anok has challenged his chieftain Enor to a battle. The winner will lead their tribe, while the loser will know the taste of death. Anok feels torn between his duty and his feelings. While he knows that Enor desires death, he looks upon the chieftain as a father figure and is reluctant to kill him.
Robert Kirkman and David Finch pull no punches with Skinbreaker #2. The fight between Anok and Enor is bloody and brutal, yet it also features an emotional core as Enor begs Anok to kill him. When Anok’s wife, Dala, mentions that the laws of their tribe require strength over compassion, Anok barks, “Then maybe the laws should change!” This isn’t your typical fantasy story; it’s designed to make the readers think.
That doesn’t mean Skinbreaker #2 isn’t a gorgeous-looking book. Finch pours an insane amount of detail into his work, which reveals more about Anok and Enor’s tribe. During their battle, the duo don armor that feels like a cross between samurai armor and indigenous regalia, while the titular Skinbreaker’s crystalline blade is a far cry from the massive axe that Anok wields. You can also see the emotions dancing in the orcs’ jet black eyes – there’s sadness, there’s anger, but also the kind of determination that sets someone on a certain path.
Image
Thanks to Annalisa Leoni’s colors, the artwork pops. A bright sun shines over the entire scene, drenching what should be a dark moment in golden light. That contrast extends to the orcs’ home, a massive series of stony caverns where only a crackling fire can draw warmth. Leoni also returns to the alien forest that appeared in Skinbreaker #1, continuing to color its wildlife a dark shade of green that feels very sickly.
If that wasn’t enough, Skinbreaker #2 features what I’ve come to call the signature “Kirkman Twist”. Throughout his comics career, Kirkman has been known for inserting twists that not only completely upend the narrative but also the expectations of comic book fans. The Walking Dead gradually shifted more towards human cruelty than zombie action. Invincible saw its titular hero’s father revealed as a member of an intergalactic race hellbent on conquest. Void Rivals dropped a Transformer into its opening issue, setting the stage for the Energon Universe.
Skinbreaker #2 features a similar twist, but instead of setting up another story or delivering a shocking scene, it sets the stage for the next part of the story. It also shows the different approach that Kirkman is taking to this comic. He is telling a story of change; more importantly, he’s showcasing how it takes time for people to change their ways.
Skinbreaker #2 doesn’t just continue to flesh out its fantasy world, but it also features a twist that ties into its overarching story about change. It’s the kind of big swing that makes Image my favorite comic publisher, and it bodes well for the rest of the series.
You must be logged in to post a comment.