When this second issue crossed my desk, I was pleased to find that there was a previous-issue synopsis included on the inside front cover. I found the storytelling in the first issue to be unclear and confusing, but what I did gather from it bears only a passing resemblance to what the creators provide as a recap here. Still, armed with that new perspective, I figured this issue would prove to be a smoother reading experience. I was wrong.
The genetically enhanced superhumans -- transformed by an alien virus -- that have formed the Dominion attempt to establish their first foothold toward world domination in the utopian Australian town of Surfer's Paradise. Maggie, a powerful madwoman at the heart of the Dominion, finds herself under attack by another superwoman, and she decides it ought to be a nice diversion for an afternoon. Meanwhile, humans in the middle of the wasteland that was once Brisbane, Australia, test new methods to fight the corrupt powerhouses that threaten the human way of life.
The creators opt to open this issue with a brief explanation as to why the book has gone from full color in the first issue to black-and-white in the second. Short answer: the title isn't selling well. The author of the note takes an odd attitude in conveying the production information, though. It's an attempt to be flip, but there's a defense tone to it that more than a little off-putting.
Giffen's artwork is in keeping with his sketchy style, and he captures the characters' savagery quite well. I find his choice to have two women who look more than a little alike fighting through the issue to be a bit odd, but perhaps the linework was crafted before the decision was made to pull the color.
Easily the most distracting aspect of the book is Richie's failure to identify his characters. Players in this drama are rarely named, and it makes for an arduous read. The script seems to skip over such details rather often, and the result is confusing. Furthermore, we really don't get a sense of why these characters are doing what they do. Is Maggie insane? If Donald Vasher isn't interested in a life of world domination, why is he hanging out with those who do? There seems to be little rhyme or reason to the characters' actions, and as a result, no clear plot direction either.
