Inferno Girl Red, like most of the books in the Massiveverse, is appealing because it takes a more realistic approach to superheroics. I don’t mean “realistic” in the “grim, gritty, and embarrassed of its genre roots” mentality that seemed to plague a lot of comic books in the ’90s and early 2000s, but “realistic” in the “here’s how certain superhero tropes would go down in real life” sense. Inferno Girl Red: Book Two #2 continues that trend by showcasing how fighting the forces of evil can take a toll on even the mightiest of heroes.
Make no mistake, Cassia Costa is feeling pressure. Not only does she have to battle the monstrous forces of Entropy and keep a life-saving shield around her hometown of Apex City, but she must also deal with the fact that her fellow student Thomas Park has inherited the villainous mantle of the Griffin. Add in the fact that twins Silvio and Silvia Moretti have promised to destroy part of Apex City, and Cassia is pushed to limits that no teenager should be going through – even if they have a bracelet fueled with dragon’s fire.
Once again, the double-sized format of Inferno Girl Red: Book Two #2 allows this story to play out at a natural pace, and for co-creators Mat Groom and Erica D’Urso to really dig into the emotions Cassia is feeling. Despite the protests of her mentor Dr. Caro, Cassia goes to classes to get “a minute of normalcy”, as she puts it. She also has a small moment with Thomas, which is cute in theory but takes on a tragic tone since he isn’t aware that she’s the same person he fought as the Griffin. A normal comic would have to spread this over one or two issues, yet Inferno Girl Red: Book Two #2 makes the most of its 48 pages.
In addition to exploring his heroine’s emotional state, Groom also starts fleshing out the mythology of Inferno Girl Red. It turns out that Cassia is merely the latest in a very long line of Inferno Girl Reds, and that she can draw on their experience to help her in battle. Not only does this open the door for future Inferno Girl Red installments, but it also shows that no matter what, Cassia will never be alone. Groom also shows that Cassia has other friends she can rely on, particularly her roommates Harriette and Lillian who offer support in the form of new tech and movie nights.
The balance between superheroics and teenage life is also given life by D’Urso, who manages to draw the school scenes with as much detail as Inferno Girl Red’s battle against the Entropy monsters. One set of pages stands out, as it features Inferno Girl Red and the Griffin honing their skills. While Cassia has the support of Dr. Caro and the legion of Inferno Girl Reds to help her, Thomas is by himself – and harboring a deep rage, judging from the destruction he leaves in his wake. Even Igor Monti’s colors highlight the difference, with IGR’s scenes featuring a bright red and Griffin’s a jet black resembling the night sky.
In Inferno Girl Red: Book Two #2, it seems to suggest that Groom and D’Urso are dedicated to giving their hero the balance she needs, but not before they put her through another trial by fire. More superhero books could take a lesson from this one.
