This second chapter in the life of the newly revamped Thorn really doesn't hold much in the way of surprises, but Simone manages to instill a great deal of intensity in the story. The psychological transformation from Rose to Thorn has been given a visual representation here, and it makes for a much more jarring and violent shift in the character. The plot is moving along at an enjoyably quick pace, and the art continues to impress. Gail Simone isn't exactly reinventing the wheel here when it comes to this classic but obscure character, but she's added some bitchin' chrome sport rims and top of the line radials.
OK, that's enough of the automotive metaphors for now...
After violence erupts at his youth care facility, Dr. Casey Howlett has second thoughts about Dr. Chritlow's personality-altering protocols... but not the kind one might expect. Howlett's determined to improve the lives of these forgotten girls... no matter what the cost. Meanwhile, Rose finally reaches a point where Chritlow feels she's ready for life outside the walls of an institution, but it doesn't take long before she encounters a situation that calls for Thorn's more direct and brutal approach to resolution.
The most striking visual segments in this book continue to be those set in the psychological "Hallway" in Rose's mind. The inky, extreme quality of that imagery puts me in mind of Bill Sienkiewicz's angular, edgy work. Everything about those sequences looks different from the rest of the book, even the colors. It's a strong, effective storytelling device. I also enjoy how Melo's linework in the rest of the book reminds me of the style of Dick Giordano, who brought the character's adventures to life 30 or so years ago. I'm also reminded of Paul (Negation) Pelletier's softer style as well.
One of my favorite things about this issue is how Simone humanizes Chritlow. One gets the sense that he's really thinking beyond himself and his experiments here and sees the human side of the equation. While his cold nature impressed me in the first issue, I like that there seems to be a balance instilled in the character here. He's not evil, just misguided and corrupt, blinded by ambition and ego.
In the past, the transition from Rose to Thorn was a quieter one, but Simone has transformed Thorn into a much more explosive and less thoughtful personality here. She is protective, yes, but overzealous, sadistic and unconcerned about longterm consequences. She is Rose's greatest enemy, but a necessary savior at the same time. What Simone has on the go here, really, is something akin to the Jason Blood/Etrigan the Demon dynamic, albeit in a much more grounded package.
