Vaughan impresses yet again with another brilliant examination of the human condition this month. I'd say this was one of the strongest issues of the series to date, but just about every one has been a real achievement in storytelling and characterization. This month, Vaughan impresses me with some honest and blunt dialogue that reveals a lot about the characters, and with a stunning level of accessibility. A reader could pick up this issue as his or her first, and s/he'd have little trouble hopping on board the Y bandwagon.
As Dr. Mann tends to the injured Agent 355, Yorick goes for a stroll through Marrisville with Sonia, the young woman who found him. Sonia is clearly attracted to the last man on Earth, but it's also clear that she's holding something back, something about the utopian town full of women who have managed to thrive in the wake of the global gender catastrophe. Meanwhile, Hero, Yorick's sister, realizes that her brother has survived the catastrophe, and now she must struggle with the decision of whether or not to share that knowledge with her beloved but brutal Amazonian leader.
Guerra's simple style brings a soft vulnerability to these characters, and that makes it much easier to relate to them. I love how the characters are varied in shape and size. Sonia is a pretty girl here, but she doesn't fall into the category of Comic-Book Uber Babe. It's her girl-next-door qualities that make her appealing. I also enjoyed how the harshness of Hero and her Amazon sisters contrast against the clean-cut peace of Marrisville and its residents.
Of course, I think the best moment in this script comes when Sonia's wholesome look and appeal collides with her crude but honest explanation of her sexuality. Not only does it point to a worldly side and strength in the character, but Vaughan addresses the notion of sexuality in a world of only one gender. In this issue, Sonia is fleshed out quickly and well, and it makes the notion of Yorick's attraction to her despite his thoughts about Beth in Australia far more plausible.
Marrisville's big secret turns out to be an interesting change of pace, and I love how Vaughan kept us on our toes. The revelation turns out to be far more innocent than one might have guessed, but Vaughan maintains tension throughout the book. The slight tone of paranoia at the beginning of the script sets the reader up to flinch at the sight of the ax. Another interesting aspect of the premise here is that while the women worry that the revelation of their secret will undo their paradise, it's Yorick's presence and influence that threatens it, not snitching.
