Wealthy socialite Jenny Barnes and Private Investigator Joe Diamond continue the search for Jenny’s missing sister Izzie in Arkham Horror: The Terror at the End of Time #2 (written by Cullen Bunn with art by Andrea Mutti and colors by Valerio Alloro).
The issue kicks off in the middle of the action from last issue, as Jenny and Joe, still in the depths of the abandoned chapel and being attacked by a legion of creatures created from dust, battling on, trying to get out alive. It’s a thrilling scene straight out of a great pulp novel as Jenny and Joe battle the monsters with a combination of pistols and fists. At one point, Jenny’s firing two pistols and it’s incredibly fun seeing the usually erudite and prim socialite double-wielding two hand cannons like The Killer from a John Woo film.
The issue briefly slows down a bit from there as Jenny and Joe plan their next move. Even in these “slow” moments, the banter between Jenny and Joe is so enjoyable that I’d enjoy reading a series where they just sat in a diner with a pot of coffee, discussing whether its best with cream and sugar and arguing over it.
The two characters perfectly balance each other, with Jenny’s haughtiness, cultured background and feisty spirit a great match with Joe’s down-to-Earth no-nonsense outlook on the world. They’re both insatiably curious, which is a great asset when looking for a missing woman, but in the Arkham Horror universe, where twisted blood cults and primordial beasts lurk around every corner, it can be a quick death sentence too.
The backdrop of the miniseries is the 1920s, which is such a ripe era for any type of story. Artist Andrea Mutti’s art captures the time period in great detail, from the fashion styles to the architecture. It’s just off-kilter enough to give the book a constant atmosphere of dread. Even in Jenny and Joe’s lighter moments, there’s a feeling of doom hanging in the air.
This issue goes deeper into the mystery, exploring elements of time travel and alternate dimensions that H. P. Lovecraft was so obsessed with but also adding a malevolent plot masterminded by the upper crust. Yeah, having a cadre of the 1% dabbling in human sacrifices and black magic isn’t the most original idea in the world, but it lends a lot of tension to the issue, especially towards the end. What makes it more interesting is that Jenny’s part of that 1% too, but despite being a “party girl”, she’s pretty low-key and has no desire to get any more wealth or power than she already has.
The issue ends on a stunning cliffhanger that promises to send the next issue off into Edgar Rice Burroughs territory and I can’t wait to see how Jenny and Joe get out of this one.
I really hope Jenny and Joe survive this miniseries. I love their Nick and Nora Charles energy, and I’d love to see them dive into a variety of adventures. Dare I hope that working class gumshoe Joe might jaunt over to Europe with Jenny one day for an international escapade?
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