Benjamin Franklin once said, “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” Supernatural #2 puts Franklin’s claim to the test, as it shows that luck can be bestowed, or even taken away, in the right circumstances. These circumstances find Sam and Dean Winchester in Las Vegas, perilously low on cash after the events of the first issue. Dean thinks he can win back some money at the tables, and Sam encounters a beautiful, yet mysterious woman who has her own connection to the casino that the brothers set foot in.
The beauty of Supernatural #2 is that it actually feels like the kind of episode the series would do; in fact, I’m surprised that no one pitched a ghost story set in Vegas during Supernatural‘s 15-year run on TV. Greg Pak also deserves credit for telling a standalone tale that any reader can pick up, whether they’ve read the first issue or not. The art of making each issue in an ongoing series its own story was once thought to be a lost cause, but between Ryan North’s Fantastic Four and this series, I’m glad it’s coming back.
Pak also continues to write the Winchester brothers with pitch-perfect characterization. Dean remains every bit the roguish, impulsive charmer, and it won’t surprise anyone that he’s the one who suggests that the brothers gamble to win gas money. Sam, on the other hand, is smart enough to realize that there’s a ghost affecting the games in the casino – and that her death is connected to that casino’s history. The fact that Pak manages to capture the show’s characterizations while telling original stories is a commendable feat.
Dynamite
Eder Messias’ artwork also keeps the same mix of horror, humor, and heart that fueled the early seasons of Supernatural. Like Supernatural #1, it opens with a horrific death that ties into the main case of the week, which leads to another horrific death involving a broken window. The rest of the issue is light on blood, opting for poetic justice. The casino setup also lets Messias fulfill a standard Supernatural trope where Dean and Sam disguise themselves, this time trying to pass themselves off as high rollers. But the fact that they’re illustrated as wearing ill-fitting suits and that Sam clearly feels out of place highlights that the Winchesters aren’t the dynamic monster-fighting duo fans come to know and love.
Ellie Wright also deserves a massive amount of credit for capturing the glitz and glamour of Vegas through her color art. Every bright light casts a darker shadow, underscoring the issue’s underlying mystery. Also fitting into the mystery vibes? The bright red dress the ghost wears makes her a literal femme fatale, since she’s seeking justice for her death. Wright knows how to use color to set the mood, which is important in the world of Supernatural. You have to be able to shift from funny to scary on a dime.
Supernatural #2 not only continues its expansion of the hit series, but comes up with a clever twist on the classic ghost story. The question is: what will Pak and Messias bring to the table for the next issue?
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